Methods and apparatus for using information regarding actions performed using traceable objects

Abstract

An embodiment of a communication system includes a client device adapted to receive a traceable object that includes tracer information, and to perform one or more object-related actions using the traceable object. The client device stores the tracer information and object usage information, which describes the one or more object-related actions that have been performed using the traceable object. The client device also sends the stored information to a server. The system also includes the server, which is adapted to receive the object usage information and the tracer information reported by the client device. In an embodiment, the system also includes a service provider adapted to initiate a billing event, which may include generation and transmission of a bill to a sponsor entity based on an evaluation of the object usage information and the tracer information reported by the client device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication system comprising:
 a client device adapted to receive a traceable object that includes tracer information, to perform one or more object-related actions using the traceable object, to store object usage information and the tracer information, and to send the object usage information and the tracer information to a server, wherein the object usage information describes the one or more object-related actions that have been performed by the client device using the traceable object; and   the server adapted to receive and store the object usage information.   
     
     
         2 . The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the client device further comprises:
 a data storage subsystem, wherein the client device is adapted to store the tracer information and the object usage information in a client-side object usage log within the data storage subsystem.   
     
     
         3 . The communication system of  claim 2 , wherein the client device is further adapted to maintain a usage credit value in the data storage subsystem. 
     
     
         4 . The communication system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an object usage tracking database, wherein the server is adapted to store the object usage information in a server-side object usage log within the object usage tracking database.   
     
     
         5 . The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the server is further adapted to send the object usage information to a service provider, and wherein the communication system further comprises   the service provider adapted to receive the object usage information from the server, and to initiate a billing event based on an evaluation of the object usage information and the tracer information.   
     
     
         6 . The communication system of  claim 5 , wherein the service provider is further adapted to maintain usage credit values for one or more client devices. 
     
     
         7 . The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further adapted to maintain usage credit values for one or more client devices. 
     
     
         8 . A method performed by a client device, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a traceable object that includes tracer information;   performing one or more object-related actions using the traceable object; and   storing object usage information and the tracer information, wherein the object usage information describes the one or more object-related actions that have been performed by the client device using the traceable object.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more object-related actions include at least one action selected from a group of actions that includes a download action and a play action. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more object-related actions include at least one action selected from a group of actions that include a receive action, a call action, a view action, a map action, a send action, a save action, a search action, a physical navigation action, an arrival action, a display action, a web navigation action, and a purchase action. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein storing the object usage information comprises:
 determining that an object-related action has been performed by the client device using the traceable object; and   generating a record in a client-side object usage log, wherein the record includes an identification of the object-related action and the tracer information of the traceable object.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the tracer information is encrypted tracer information, and wherein storing the object usage information in conjunction with the tracer information comprises:
 storing the object usage information in conjunction with the encrypted tracer information.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving an object usage information request from the server; and   sending the traceable object usage information and the tracer information to the server in response to receiving the object usage information request.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining whether a reporting event has occurred; and   sending the traceable object usage information and the tracer information to a server when the reporting event has occurred, and wherein the reporting event is an event selected from a group of events that includes a performance of a object-related action, a collection of a predetermined quantity of object usage information, the object usage log reaching a predetermine size, a performance of a predetermined number of object-related actions, an elapse of a predetermined period of time, an entry into a particular operational state, and a receipt of a report request message from the server.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 increasing a usage credit value when the client device performs an object-related action.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 decreasing a usage credit value when the client device performs a redemption action.   
     
     
         17 . A method performed by a server, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a client-generated information request from a client device, wherein the information request includes parameters for obtaining information;   obtaining one or more traceable objects in response to receiving the client-generated information request, wherein a traceable object of the one or more traceable objects includes tracer information in one or more tracer fields; and   sending the one or more traceable objects to the client device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 storing a provider identifier in a provider identifier field of the tracer fields.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 protecting the tracer information by encrypting portions of the tracer information.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 protecting the tracer information by storing an integrity key in a tracer protection information field of the tracer fields.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving object usage information and client-reported tracer information from the client device, wherein the object usage information describes one or more object-related actions that have been performed by the client device using the one or more traceable objects, and the client-reported tracer information includes tracer information associated with the one or more traceable objects.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 sending an object usage information request to the client device, wherein the traceable object usage information and the client-reported tracer information is received from the client device in response to the object usage information request.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 validating the client-reported tracer information.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 maintaining usage credit values for one or more client devices.   
     
     
         25 . A method performed by a service provider, comprising the steps of:
 receiving object usage information and reported tracer information from another system entity, wherein the object usage information describes one or more object-related actions that have been performed by one or more client devices using one or more traceable objects, and wherein the reported tracer information includes an identification of one or more sponsor entities associated with the one or more traceable objects; and   initiating a billing event based on an evaluation of the object usage information and the reported tracer information.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein initiating the billing event comprises:
 identifying, as sponsor entities to be billed, a set of sponsor entities identified in the reported tracer information of the one or more traceable objects that were used; and   determining billing amounts for each sponsor entity of the set of sponsor entities.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 generating and transmitting electronic or paper bills to a sponsor entity of the set of sponsor entities, which specify a billing amount determined for the sponsor entity of the set of sponsor entities.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 initiating a funds transfer from a sponsor entity of the set of sponsor entities, wherein an amount of the funds transfer may include all or a portion of a billing amount determined for the sponsor entity of the set of sponsor entities.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein initiating the billing event comprises:
 identifying, as users to be billed, a set of users associated with the reported tracer information of the one or more traceable objects that were used; and   determining billing amounts for each user of the set of users.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 generating and transmitting electronic or paper bills to a user of the set of users, which specify a billing amount determined for the user of the set of users.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 initiating a funds transfer from a user of the set of users, wherein an amount of the funds transfer may include all or a portion of a billing amount determined for the user of the set of users.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 maintaining usage credit values for one or more client devices.   
     
     
         33 . A client device comprising:
 a processing subsystem adapted to determine whether a object-related action has been performed in which a traceable object that includes tracer information has been used by the client device, and when the object-related action has occurred, to initiate storage of the tracer information and object usage information into a data storage subsystem, wherein the object usage information describes the object-related action;   the data storage subsystem adapted to store the object usage information and the tracer information; and   a network interface adapted to receive the traceable object, and to transmit one or more messages that include the object usage information and the tracer information over a network.   
     
     
         34 . The client device of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 at least one user interface input device adapted to enable a user to cause the client device to perform the object-related action; and   at least one user interface output device adapted to depict information within the traceable object.   
     
     
         35 . The client device of  claim 33 , wherein the client device forms a portion of any one or more electronic devices selected from a group of devices that includes a cellular telephone, a radio, a pager, a mobile computer system, a personal data assistant, a personal navigation device, and a computer.