METHODS OF SHARING DATA USAGE AT A PLURALITY OF NETWORK DEVICES

Abstract

The present invention discloses methods and systems for sharing data usage by a plurality of SIM cards at a plurality of network devices. Each of the plurality of network devices is capable of housing at least one SIM card from the plurality of SIM cards. The method comprises the steps of determining the total data usage allowance. A remaining total data usage allowance is determined by either retrieving it from a carrier server or by subtracting aggregated data usage information from the total data usage allowance. The method further comprises restricting use of one or more of the plurality of SIM cards when the remaining total data usage allowance is below a first threshold until the remaining total data usage allowance is above the first threshold. The total data usage allowance is changed to a first value periodically or according to an administrator's instruction.

Claims

1. A method of restricting usage of a group of SIM cards according to data usage of the group of SIM cards, comprising: (a) determining a first threshold; (b) determining a total data usage; wherein the total data usage is based on data usage information of each SIM card in the group of SIM cards; and (c) restricting usage of one or more SIM cards in the group of SIM cards, when the total data usage is about to reach the first threshold or is larger than the first threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each SIM card in the group of SIM cards is housed in a first device or housed in respective SIM card slots connected to the first device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two SIM cards in the group of SIM cards are housed in different devices.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining a remaining total data usage allowance, and allocating the remaining total data usage allowance to the different devices according to respective priorities of the different devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two SIM cards in the group of SIM cards are housed in a first device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the total data usage is based on data usage information stored and data usage information retrieved through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the total data usage according to a date.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the total data usage according to an administrator's instruction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is performed on a condition that an instruction is received from an administrator.

10. A method of restricting usage of a group of SIM cards according to data usage of the group of SIM cards, comprising: (a) determining a first threshold; (b) determining a total data usage; wherein the total data usage is based on data usage information of each SIM card in the group of SIM cards; (c) when the total data usage is about to reach the first threshold or is larger than the first threshold: (i) sending a notification to an administrator; (ii) restricting usage of one or more SIM cards in the group of SIM cards, when no instruction is received from an administrator within a predefined time period after the notification is sent; and wherein at least two SIM cards in the group of SIM cards are not housed in a same device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising updating the total data usage according to a date.

12. A system of restricting usage of a group of SIM cards according to data usage of the group of SIM cards; wherein the system comprising: at least one processing unit; at least one main memory; at least one SIM card slot; at least one secondary storage storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for: (a) determining a first threshold; (b) determining a total data usage; wherein the total data usage is based on data usage information of each SIM card in the group of SIM cards; and (c) restricting usage of one or more SIM cards in the group of SIM cards, when the total data usage is about to reach the first threshold or is larger than the first threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each SIM card in the group of SIM cards is housed in a first device or housed in respective SIM card slots connected to the first device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein at least two SIM cards in the group of SIM cards are housed in different devices.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one secondary storage further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for determining a remaining total data usage allowance, and allocating the remaining total data usage allowance to the different devices according to respective priorities of the different devices.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein at least two SIM cards in the group of SIM cards are housed in a first device.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the total data usage is based on data usage information stored and data usage information retrieved through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary storage further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for updating the total data usage according to a date.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one secondary storage further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for updating the total data usage according to an administrator's instruction.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is performed on a condition that an instruction is received from an administrator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0076] FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of first device 100, according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0077] FIG. 1B illustrates a network environment according to various embodiments of the present invention;

[0078] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0079] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of step 206 for determining whether or not to use the first SIM card according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0080] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process carried out at first server 111according to one of the embodiments;

[0081] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0082] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;