WO2017064658A2

WO2017064658A2 - Dynamic control of data consumption by software applications on mobile devices

Info

Publication number: WO2017064658A2
Application number: PCT/IB2016/056161
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marthinus Phillipus NEETHLING
Original assignee: Digitata Limited; DE BEER, Deon
Priority date: 2015-10-14
Filing date: 2016-10-14
Publication date: 2017-04-20
Also published as: ZA201805313B; PH12018550063A1; WO2017064658A3

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for dynamically controlling data consumption of a mobile device that is active on a telecommunications network, the method including inputting control values in respect of relevant settings through a user interface of software installed on a mobile device, monitoring data usage for compliance with the control values and allowing or denying data usage for monitored software applications accordingly.

Description

DYNAMIC CONTROL OF DATA CONSUMPTION BY SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS ON

MOBILE DEVICES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for the control of data consumption by software applications on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Portable electronic communication and entertainment devices such as cellular telephones, tablets, laptops and the like, have evolved rapidly over recent years to become more user- friendly and powerful in terms of their features and capabilities. Faster processing chips, more memory and improved interfaces such as touch screens and keyboards as well as reduced costs have made these devices more accessible to the general public. Improvements in mobile communication technologies and protocols have allowed ease of access to many new types of information and digital media to be delivered to these mobile devices.

A by-product of the new features and capabilities, as well as the faster and more readily available network infrastructure, is the mobile software application or "Mobile App".

These mobile software applications perform a vast array of functions and provide access to large quantities of media and information such as email, movies, music, news, and books, to name but a few. In order to provide access to this information and media, many mobile software applications connect to servers to synchronize data both when in direct use by a user, and also in the background with no user intervention. In addition to synchronizing information and media, many mobile software applications also perform automated updates of themselves which can also happen with no user intervention. These tasks consume mobile data and can have a significant impact on the mobile device in terms of battery consumption, general performance and cost of mobile data. Most mobile subscription packages are classified as "Pre-Paid" or "Post-Paid" in terms of their billing type. Irrespective of type, mobile data is generally provided in a "bundle" that is defined as an amount of data (for instance 100MB, or 1 GB, and so on) that is available for consumption by software applications operating on the mobile device, in a set period of time such as 1 hour, 30 days, 3 months, and so forth. In some cases, bundles may only apply to certain periods during a 24 hour day cycle e.g. a "Night Surfer" bundle may offer additional capacity for night time use only. In most instances the cost of mobile data when "out of bundle" is significantly higher than the "in bundle" rate, and often users are unaware of how much mobile data their mobile devices are consuming because many processes and applications perform activities that cause data consumption in the background without the users' knowledge. The resulting and unexpected "bill shock" is a concern to users. In the event that the user is on a "Pre- paid" package and have consumed their available data bundle, they are generally unable to use further mobile data until they make an additional purchase, which can result in great inconvenience when trying to use an application and finding its capabilities restricted.

In addition, users are exposed to extremely high data tariffs when roaming on host networks. Again, the lack of visibility regarding to the amount of background data being consumed and the inability to control data at an app level, typically force users to turn off all mobile data services while roaming.

Users, making use of low cost (or free) Wi-Fi services may also be subjected to unexpected data charges should that Wi-Fi service be temporally interrupted, as the phone is typically configured to automatically resume the data session on the mobile service, without informing the user.

Users may want to limit the use of data to a specific radio access network (RAN) technology (e.g. Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G etc.) in order to reduce cost or to improve quality of service (e.g. bandwidth or latency) . Telecommunication network operators may wish to discount the tariff for a particular (typically newer) RAN in order to encourage faster migration of users to a newer technology in order to improve return on investment and/or to reduce traffic on the older technologies and hence minimise further investment into those older technologies.

Typically, a user may not be aware of the degree, or the financial impact, of foreground or background data consumption. In order to minimise unintended data consumption, the user may also be warned when attempting to use data in the foreground, that the specified settings are being violated. However, when a user is warned about data consumption this is typically by means of a very general message, along the lines of "carrier charges may apply" or ""you have started to incur out of bundle data costs". Typically such messages are for information purposes only, and the user is left to figure out what, if anything, to do in response.

There is therefore a need to control the usage of data by a mobile device to reduce the cost of mobile data to the end user, while still providing access to the services and content the end user would like to consume.

Previous methods that attempted to reduce the impact and cost of background data usage by applications rely on a server side process to allow/deny access to data services based on policies or packages associated with an end user's account. This may be referred to as a so-called "stick" approach. It works by providing the owner of a mobile device with an incentive to limit consumption of data to a predetermined maximum volume, within a predetermined period. The user is "punished" by denial of service or extremely high data costs if the data consumption on the relevant mobile device exceeds the limits.

Prior art systems generally are also not fine grained and do not allow the end user to specify when individual applications may access data . They are generally an all-or-nothing implementation. These prior art systems also do not link data usage directly to cost - they are typically linked only to data volume consumed - so users cannot guarantee that if they implement these policies they will actually benefit from reduced cost.

Also, these prior art systems often have a passive component where a user will be warned about the possibility of breaching data quotas, but do not provide a mechanism for actively stopping the breach, should it occur.

In this specification the phrases: · "mobile device" means a mobile hardware device that is configured to communicate with similar and other devices through a telecommunications network by exploiting the services offered by a service provider that allows access to such network, and it includes without limitation smart phones, tablets computers, smart watches and wearable devices, and laptop computers enabled for communication on such networks;

• "background data" means data that is consumed when a mobile software application operating on a mobile device communicates through the telecommunications network on which the mobile device is active, when such a mobile software application is not running in the foreground of the mobile device or when the display of the mobile device is not active;

• "data consuming" and "consuming data" in the context of a software application means a software application that is active and for the execution of its programmed functions requires access to data, whether foreground data or background data, for communication through the telecommunications network on which the mobile device is active, and would, unless prevented, consume such data;

• "data" means data that is consumed when a mobile software application operating on a mobile device communicates through the telecommunications network on which the mobile device is active, and may comprises foreground data or background data;

• "dynamic tariffing" or "DT" means in respect of a telecommunications network that the rates (i.e. tariff) at which services are offered and charged to mobile devices active on such a network are dynamically adjusted depending on dynamically variable factors, including network load, and a "dynamic tariffing network" means a telecommunications network that applies dynamic tariffing ; and

• "foreground data" means data that is consumed when a mobile software application operating on a mobile device communicates through the telecommunications network on which the mobile device is active, when such a mobile software application is running in the foreground of the mobile device or when the display of the mobile device is active.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION It is an objective of the invention to provide a method for controlling data consumption by software applications on mobile devices which at least partly overcomes the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a method for dynamically controlling data consumption of a mobile device that is active on a telecommunications network, including the steps of:

• installing a controller software application on the mobile device which operatively provides a user interface to allow input of control values in respect of any one or more of:

• a tariff or tariff discount;

• a time window; • roaming status; and

• RAN connection type;

compiling a monitored list comprising at least some data consuming software applications installed on the mobile device;

monitoring :

• the tariff or tariff discount made available to the mobile device by the dynamic tariffing network on which the mobile device is active, in the event that either a tariff control value or a tariff discount control value has been set on the mobile device operating system;

• the current time of day, in the event that a time window control value has been set on the mobile device operating system;

• the roaming status, made available to the mobile device by a network on which the mobile device is active, in the event that a roaming status control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; and

• the RAN connection type, in the event that a RAN connection type control value has been set on the mobile device operating system;

monitoring which software applications on the monitored list are consuming data; denying a software application that is on the monitored list and is consuming data access to data for as long as:

• the tariff applicable to the mobile device exceeds the tariff control value, in the event that a tariff control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the tariff discount applicable to the mobile device does not exceed the tariff discount control value, in the event that a tariff discount control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the current time of day is outside the time window control value, in the event that a time window control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the network connection is a roaming connection and the roaming status control value has been set to "Roaming barred" on the mobile device operating system; or

• the RAN connection type does not match the RAN connection type control value, in the event that a RAN connection type control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; and

allowing a software application that is on the monitored list and is consuming data access to such data for as long as: • the tariff applicable to the mobile device is less than or equal to the tariff control value, in the event that a tariff control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the tariff discount applicable to the mobile device is greater than or equal to the tariff discount control value, in the event that a tariff discount value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the current time is inside the time window control value, in the event that a time window control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

· the network is not a roaming connection, or the roaming connection control value has been set to "Roaming allowed" in the event that a roaming status control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the RAN connection type matches the RAN connection type control value, in the event that a RAN connection type control value has been set on the mobile device operating system;

operatively to individually allow or disallow each of the software applications on the monitored list access to data according to the input provided through the user interface of the controller software application. There is further provided for the method to include, in respect of software applications on the monitored list that are consuming foreground data, also the steps of:

• presenting the user with a foreground data consumption violation warning message if such foreground data consumption would be in breach of one of the data consumption control values;

· allowing such software application access to foreground data if the user overrides the foreground data consumption violation warning message; and

• denying such software application access to foreground data if the user does not override the foreground data consumption violation warning message. There is further provided for the monitored list to include all data consuming software applications in respect of which a control value has been set and for the user interface to preferably allow input in respect of all data consuming software applications installed on the mobile device. There is further provided for the telecommunications network to comprise a dynamic tariffing network. There is still further provided for the input in respect of the roaming status type to comprise one of "roaming barred" or "roaming allowed".

There is further provided for the input in respect of the RAN connection type to comprise any one or more of Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G or 4G, or similar RAN types. There is further provided for the controller software application to comprise first and second software applications, with the first software application being configured to provide the user interface, and with the second software application being configured to receive instructions from the first software application to set the control values on the mobile device operating system.

There is further provided for the monitoring of the tariff discount, made available to the mobile device by the dynamic tariffing network on which it is active, to be performed by a separate module of the software application, which is preferably integrated in the first software application.

There is further provided for the input of the tariff control value to be expressed as an absolute tariff amount and the input of the tariff discount control value is expressed as a discount percentage. There is still further provided for the controller software application, preferably the first software application, to verify with the dynamic tariffing network on which the mobile device is active whether the mobile device is eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing, and for the user interface displayed on the display screen of the mobile device to reflect a demonstration mode only if the mobile device is not eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing on the dynamic tariffing network.

There is still further provided for the controller software application, and preferably the first software application, to request user registration input in respect of the method, and for the user interface displayed on the display screen of the mobile device to reflect a tariff or discount display mode only if the mobile device is eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing on the dynamic tariffing network but not registered in respect of the method, and for the user interface displayed on the display screen of the mobile device to reflect a fully operational display mode if the mobile device is eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing on the dynamic tariffing network and is registered in respect of the method .

There is still further provided for the controller software application, preferably the first software application, to verify with the dynamic tariffing network on which the mobile device is active whether the mobile device is eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing by submitting the mobile device's MSISDN number to the communications network.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided for the method to include analysing tariff or tariff discount control values, where at least one of these control values have been set, collating network usage offer including data usage and any one or more of a number of call minutes and a number of messages, with the offer being configured to compliment the set tariff or tariff discount control values, and presenting the offer to the user through the user interface of the controller software application, and providing also a user input field displayed on the mobile device display screen to allow the user to accept or decline the offer.

These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical representation of the communication and process flow involved in application of the method of the invention to a mobile device; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatical representation of the mobile application registration process forming part of the process shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is described with reference to the control of background data consumption, which includes downloading an installing a mobile software application which is operated for that effect.

The end user downloads and installs the mobile software application ("app") from an App Store (90). Once installed the application registers the user with the correct backend server for their mobile operator as shown in Figure 2 ( 160) based on information gathered by the application from the device (User's location, Mobile Country Code, Network Colour Code). The user's MSISDN (Mobile phone number) is required to determine if he is subscribed to the correct billing profile to utilize the dynamic tariffing (DT) service offered by his network service provider. The MSISDN will be determined via one of two mechanisms:

1. MSISDN can be embedded in the URL that the application receives from the server (210); or

2. It can manually entered by the user (240). If the MSISDN is manually entered it will be validated using either USSD (220) or SMS (230).

The mobile application can run in three modes:

• Fully operational (270);

• Discount display only (250); or

• Demonstration Mode Only (200) (the Demonstration Mode includes the fully operational functionality of the Time window, Roaming Status & RAN connection type, since these features do not need a DT enabled network. It is only the DT aspect that has to be displayed in Demonstration Mode when the user is not subscribed to a DT service).

The backend server determines in which mode the mobile application is run, depending on whether the mobile operator for the device supports dynamic tariffing .

The mobile application has an interface that allows the user to select which applications on their mobile device they would like to restrict access to background or foreground data. This is based on the current tariff (or discount) that is retrieved from the backend server for the consumption of data (10). This allows the user to input a control value for the tariff or tariff discount. The list of applications so created forms a monitored list of data consuming software applications. This may include all data consuming software applications installed on the mobile device, or just some of them.

The mobile application may also have an interface that allows the user to select which applications on their mobile device they would like to restrict access to background or foreground data, based on the roaming status and/or time window, which allows the user to input control values in respect of a roam status and/or time window. The mobile application may also have an interface that allows the user to select which applications on their mobile device they would like to restrict access to background or foreground data, based on the RAN connection type (Wi-Fi, 2G.3G, 4G etc.) which allows the user to input control values in respect of RAN connection types.

Once configured, the application receives updates on the offered tariffs/discounts available for the specific subscriber and checks the tariff/discount level against the criteria specified by the user for restriction of background data. Similarly, it receives updates on the current time of day, and the roaming and RAN connection status of the mobile device. These latter parameters can be determined by the mobile device itself.

If the tariff is less than or equal (or discounts percentage value is greater or equal) to the control value, which may be a specified amount, or the device is camping on its home network, on an allowed RAN, or roaming where the roaming control value is "Roaming allowed", or is operated within the specified time window/s, the application will follow the process outlined in Figure 1 above to toggle the device operating system switch ON, to allow background data usage. If the tariff is greater or the percentage discount available is lower, than the control value, or is attempting to roam while the roaming control value is set to "roaming barred", use a denied RAN, or to be used outside the time window control value, then the process outlined in Figure 1 above to toggle the device operating system switch OFF, to prevent background data usage. Alternatively, logical conditions may be implemented to address specific control requirements.

In order to toggle the data switch ON and OFF, a request (20) is sent to a second application (30), with the details of the application for which the data usage must be al lowed or revoked.

Upon receiving the request, the second application will validate the identity and relevant permissions granted to the requesting application (40) with the device OS (50).

Provided the calling application has the correct permissions assigned and the identity has been correctly validated (60), the device OS (50), will toggle the background or foreground data flag for the specified application (70) .

Optionally, feedback can be provided to the calling application outlining wheth request was successful or not (80) . The feedback can also optionally be returned to the device user via the application interface (100).

If offered by the network service provider, the application may offer the end user a specific "Bundle" which may include calling minutes, data usage, SMS etc. or a combination of these services. Again the application can make a decision, based on cost or time of day whether to allow other applications to consume background or foreground data or not.

The purpose of offering data bundles is to encourage users to consume more services than they would traditionally on the basis that they are receiving better pricing (i.e. better value for money) for the services, and that they doing so in the confidence that there will be no bill shock. This increased confidence should encourage previously fearful customers to become mobile data users. This will also provide users with data, call-time and message bundles that are more closely aligned with their unique preferences.

Service bundles provide communications network operators the option of providing a structured, and thus predictable, data consumption package to a specific user. A user that is focussed on using data for social networking and mostly uses that late at night has a different data consumption profile than a user that is focussed on business use during office hours. Each of these needs different data profiles (in terms of time of day and cost) and in respect of different software applications, e.g. Facebook for social media and an email application for business use.

From the user's perspective he receives a bundle that is aligned with his personal requirements and from the communications network operator's perspective this provides predictability and an upfront sale of a bundle.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment described above is given by way of example only. It should be noted that modifications thereof are possible without departing from the essence of the invention.

For example, the embodiment describes actual control taking place in the Operating System. It is possible that such control steps do not have to be performed in the Operating System itself per se, and that it is possible to perform them in other ways.

It should also be appreciated that although the embodiment implies that the user is a human, the "user" may also be another piece of software (e.g. an IoT device) that determines the values of the control settings. For example, the control values may be changed by the IoT device according to the urgency of returning a particular piece of data . The "interface" can therefore also comprise an API to another piece of software.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically controlling data consumption of a mobile device that is active on a telecommunications network, including the steps of:

· installing a controller software application on the mobile device which operatively provides a user interface to allow input of control values in respect of any one or more of:

• a tariff or tariff discount;

• a time window;

· roaming status; and

• a RAN connection type;

• compiling a monitored list comprising at least some data consuming software applications installed on the mobile device;

• monitoring :

· the tariff or tariff discount made available to the mobile device by the dynamic tariffing network on which the mobile device is active, in the event that either or both of a tariff control value or a tariff discount control value has been set on the mobile device operating system;

• the roaming status, made available to the mobile device by the network on which the mobile device is active, in the event that a roaming status control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; and

• monitoring which software applications on the monitored list are consuming data;

• denying a software application that is on the monitored list and is consuming data access to data for as long as:

· the tariff applicable to the mobile device exceeds the tariff control value, in the event that a tariff control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the current time of day is outside the time window control value, in the event that a time window control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or • the network connection is a roaming connection and the roaming status control value has been set to "Roaming barred" on the mobile device operating system; or

• allowing a software application that is on the monitored list and is consuming data active access to data for as long as:

• the tariff applicable to the mobile device is less than or equal to the tariff control value, in the event that a tariff control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the tariff discount applicable to the mobile device is greater than or equal to the tariff discount control value, in the event that a tariff discount control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or · the current time is inside the time window control value, in the event that a time window control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

• the network is not a roaming connection, or the roaming connection control value has been set to "Roaming allowed" in the event that a roaming status control value has been set on the mobile device operating system; or

operatively to individually allow or disallow each of the software applications on the monitored list access to data according to user input provided through the user interface of the controller software application.

A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes, in respect of software applications on the monitored list that are consuming foreground data, also the steps of:

• allowing such software application access to foreground data if the user overrides the foreground data consumption violation warning message; and

• denying such software application access to foreground data if the user does not override the foreground data consumption violation warning message.

A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the telecommunications network comprises a dynamic tariffing network.

A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the monitored list includes all data consuming software applications in respect of which a control value has been set and the user interface preferably allows input in respect of all data consuming software applications installed on the mobile device.

A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the input in respect of the roaming status type comprises one of "roaming barred" or "roaming allowed".

A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the input in respect of the RAN connection type comprises any one or more of Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G or 4G, or similar RAN types.

A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the controller software application comprises first and second software applications, with the first software application being configured to provide the user interface, and with the second software application being configured to receive instructions from the first software application to set the control values on the mobile device operating system.

A method as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 in which the monitoring of the tariff discount, made available to the mobile device by the dynamic tariffing network on which it is active, is performed by a separate module of the software application, which when read with only claim 6 is preferably integrated in the first software application.

9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 in which the input of the tariff control value is expressed as an absolute tariff amount and the input of the tariff discount control value is expressed as a discount percentage.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the controller software application, and preferably the first software application when read with claim 5, verifies with the dynamic tariffing network on which the mobile device is active whether the mobile device is eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing, and the user interface displayed on the display screen of the mobile device reflects a demonstration mode only if the mobile device is not eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing on the dynamic tariffing network.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 in which the controller software application, and preferably the first software application when read with claim 6, requests user registration input in respect of the method, and the user interface displayed on the display screen of the mobile device reflects a tariff or discount display mode only if the mobile device is eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing on the dynamic tariffing network but is not registered in respect of the method, and the user interface displayed on the display screen of the mobile device reflects a fully operational display mode if the mobile device is eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing on the dynamic tariffing network and is registered in respect of the method.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the controller software application, preferably the first software application when read with claim 6, verifies with the dynamic tariffing network on which the mobile device is active whether the mobile device is eligible for receiving dynamic tariffing by submitting the mobile device's MSISDN number to the network.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 which includes analysing tariff or tariff discount control values, where at least one of these control values have been set, collating a network usage offer including data usage and any one or more of a number of call minutes and a number of messages, with the offer being configured to compliment the set tariff or tariff discount control values, presenting the offer to the user through the user interface of the controller software application, and providing also a user input field displayed on the mobile device display screen to allow the user to accept or decline the offer.