Network device using subscriber identity module

Abstract

A SIM card for a phone has a first memory partition on which a phone user identity and phone network access data are stored. A service usage monitoring application is stored in a memory. The service usage monitoring application (a) logs information about a service used via the phone, (b) creates a service usage record for the service activity based on the information, (c) stores the service usage record in a buffer, (d) creates a reporting message containing at least one service usage data record, (e) sends the reporting message to a remote server at a preset interval based on a triggered event, and (f) purges the at least one service usage record from the buffer upon successful transmission of the reporting message.

1 . A communication device to provide a service over a network, comprising: 
 a memory on which a user identity, network access data, and a service usage monitoring application are stored;    wherein the service usage monitoring application is adapted to: 
 detect and log information about the service;  
 create a service usage record for the service based on the information;  
 create a reporting message containing at least one service usage record; and  
 send the reporting message to a remote server.  
   
   
   
       2 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device is at least one of: (i) a GSM cellular phone; (ii) a CDMA cellular phone; (iii) a personal data assistant; (iv) a wireless media device; (v) a digital cable set-top box; (vi) a wireless e-mail device; (vii) a Wi-Fi phone; (viii) a Wi-Max phone; and (ix) a network access point.  
   
   
       3 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the service usage monitoring application is adapted to send the reporting message at an interval based on a triggered event.  
   
   
       4 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the service usage monitoring application is adapted to: 
 store the service usage record in a buffer; and    purge the at least one service usage record from the buffer upon successful sending of the reporting message.    
   
   
       5 . The communication device of  claim 4 , further adapted to store the logged information, the service usage record, the buffer, and the reporting message in a memory of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card adapted to be communicatively attached to the communication device.  
   
   
       6 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the usage monitoring application is further adapted to send the reporting message via a wireless communications protocol selected from a group consisting of: (i) short message service protocol; (ii) general packet radio service protocol; (iii) user datagram protocol; (iv) 1xRTT protocol; and (v) circuit-switched data calling protocol.  
   
   
       7 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the service is being selected from a group consisting of: (i) voice calling; (ii) messaging; (iii) general packet radio service; (iv) data calling service; (v) execution of a purchase transaction; (vi) downloading streaming media; and (vii) picture messaging; (viii) a 1xRTT service; (ix) a circuit-switched data service; (x) a packet data service; and (xi) an EvDO service.  
   
   
       8 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the information about the service includes at least one of: (i) a start time of the service; (ii) a destination number when the communication device initiates an outbound service; and (iii) an origin number when the communication device receives an inbound service.  
   
   
       9 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the service usage monitoring application is further adapted to periodically update a record of a length of the service during the use of the service and to log an end time at the end of the service.  
   
   
       10 . The communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the service usage monitoring application is further adapted to determine the end time by referencing a clock/timer located on the communication device.  
   
   
       11 . The communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of unique program codes necessary to implement the service usage monitoring application stored in a memory of the communication device.  
   
   
       12 . The processor-readable medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the triggered event being selected from a group consisting of: time, message size, and an accumulated service usage unit count.  
   
   
       13 . The communication device of  claim 1 , further adapted to receive a control message from the remote server, the control message including parameters to control the service and to optimize a reporting frequency of the reporting message.  
   
   
       14 . The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the parameters are being selected from a group consisting of: (i) a time frequency at which the reporting message is sent to the remote server; (ii) a message size threshold before the reporting message is sent; (iii) a service count limit of the service before the reporting message is sent; and (iv) a maximum call length allowed by the communication device.  
   
   
       15 . The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the parameters further includes a parameter commanding the communication device to do at least one of: (i) immediately send the reporting message; and (ii) set a transmission time of the reporting message according to a predefined event.  
   
   
       16 . The communication device of  claim 15 , the predefined event being selected from the group consisting of: a power-up event, a power-down event, a defined error condition event, a detection of a state of the communication device, and a detection of a user input.  
   
   
       17 . The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the control message further causes one of an enabling and a disabling of a mode of service, the mode of service being selected from a group consisting of: an inbound service mode, an outbound service mode, a short message service mode, a voice service mode, a general packet radio service mode, a transaction service mode, a data streaming service mode and a download service mode.  
   
   
       18 . The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the control message and the service usage record, is transparent to user of the communication device.  
   
   
       19 . The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the control message further causes an updating of the service usage monitoring application, by downloading new code libraries to the service usage monitoring application, and commanding the service usage monitoring application to utilize the new code libraries and to purge old code libraries.  
   
   
       20 . The communication device of  claim 11 , wherein the memory includes a first memory partition on which the service usage monitoring application is stored, and a second memory partition, and access between the first memory partition and the second memory partition is secure, is controlled locally, and is limited to pre-selected elemental files to control access to a cellular network.  
   
   
       21 . The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein the control message further includes instructions to shut off the service on the communication device when a predetermined service threshold has been met by the communication device.  
   
   
       22 . The communication device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the reporting message and the control message are encrypted.  
   
   
       23 . A communication device having a first memory portion having stored thereon a program code, which when executed causes a processor to implement a method comprising: 
 detecting and logging information about a service utilized via a communication device;    creating a service usage record for the service based on the information;    creating a reporting message containing at least one service usage record; and    sending the reporting message to a remote server.    
   
   
       24 . The communication device of  claim 23 , further comprising a second memory partition, wherein access between the first memory partition and the second memory partition being secure, controlled locally, and limited to a plurality of subscriber identity module (SIM) elemental files used to control access to a cellular network.  
   
   
       25 . The communication device according to  claim 23 , wherein the program code is further adapted to store the service usage record in a buffer located on the first memory portion.  
   
   
       26 . The communication device according to  claim 25 , wherein the program code is further adapted to purge at least one service usage record from the buffer upon successful transmission of the reporting message.  
   
   
       27 . The communication device according to  claim 23 , wherein the program code is further adapted to identify a network used by the communication device and to communicate with the identified network using appropriate network protocol.  
   
   
       28 . The communication device according to  claim 24 , wherein the program code is further adapted to: (i) interrogate the communication device to determine if a plurality of predetermined standards are met by the communication device; and (ii) invalidate the SIM elemental files if at least one of the plurality of predetermined standards are not met by the communication device.