Methods and systems for using transport-layer source ports to identify sources of packet payloads in mixed tethering and non-tethering environments
US8848579B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 11, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M15/81
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and systems for using transport-layer source ports to identify sources of packet payloads in mixed tethering and non-tethering environments so that, e.g., a provider may differentially bill between those two types of data communication. In particular, a wireless device capable of sending data from both tethered and non-tethered sources may use specified transport-layer source ports to identify data as coming from various different sources. Network entities that record data usage associated with the device may detect which port the device used to send data and use port-to-source (e.g., port-to-hardware-interface) mapping data to determine the source (e.g., the source hardware interface) of the data. The network entities may report this data usage, along with the determined data sources, to a billing system so that the billing system may accordingly differentially bill a subscriber associated with the device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.