The spotlight is now on patent US8005457B2, as BillSure LLC, a known non-practicing entity, pursues multiple active lawsuits tied to this invention. With three ongoing cases and 96 related parties in total, the patent is at the heart of a broader legal campaign targeting key players in cloud computing and enterprise services.
But what exactly does US8005457B2 cover? In simple terms, the patent describes a system that automatically detects billing discrepancies in data services. It focuses on monitoring usage data across large, distributed networks to catch billing errors before they become costly. For businesses relying on complex service infrastructures, this kind of automation could mean big savings and big legal risks.
Why is this patent being challenged? The nature of the technology, monitoring, comparing, and analyzing data for billing accuracy, touches a wide range of enterprise tools, making it a common touchpoint for litigation.
To understand how this patent fits into the bigger picture, it’s essential to explore related patents. With the Global Patent Search tool, just enter US8005457B2 to uncover related patents and build a stronger case strategy instantly.
Now, let’s dive into the specifics behind this litigation and explore potential related patents.
Understanding Patent US8005457B2
US8005457B2, titled “Method and System for Verifying Network Resource Usage Records”, addresses a critical challenge in digital network billing: accurately verifying network usage data in environments where the service provider and billing entity operate independently. The invention provides a system where the network device and the access gateway independently generate billing data. These data sets are then compared to detect any discrepancies, helping prevent fraud and billing manipulation, especially in untrusted or decentralized networks such as WiFi hotspots.
Source: US8005457B2
Its four key features are:
#1. Dual data verification: Compares billing data generated by the network user’s device and the access gateway to ensure consistency.
#2. Encrypted billing records: Uses cryptographic methods (e.g., public key or digital hash) to secure and verify data integrity.
#3. Real-time monitoring: Continuously checks billing data during the network session, not just at the end.
#4. Session termination on discrepancy: Automatically ends a session if there’s a mismatch in billing records, reducing the chance of fraudulent reporting.
This patent is at the center of litigation because its core technology, verifying and securing network usage data, directly applies to modern cloud-based billing systems. BillSure LLC alleges that current systems used by various service providers may be using similar mechanisms for billing validation and fraud prevention. With high commercial value and broad application across digital services, US8005457B2 has become a key point of contention in current and former legal disputes.
Related Patent Reference for US8005457B2
#1. AU8443398A
This related patent, filed by Nokia Telecommunications on July 14, 1998, outlines a method for implementing network access services with an integrated billing mechanism. The system uses a start message to initiate a billing session and allows for the generation and verification of charging records, some of which are authenticated via digital signatures.
Key Features of this Related Patent:
- Coupled access gateway – The patent clearly describes an access gateway (e.g., ADSL modem or router) that links a user terminal with both the network and billing system.
- Connection time-based charging – Billing is tied to the length of the session, aligning with US8005457B2’s time-tracking feature.
- Volume-based charging – The system enables charging based on data transferred, another match to a key feature.
- Terminal-generated billing data – The user device generates billing-related messages (e.g., start message), though not explicitly tied to actual usage as required by US8005457B2.
Which features of US8005457B2 are disclosed by AU8443398A?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A system enables verification of billing data received from a network resource access gateway operator by a billing service provider | Partially Disclosed |
| The network user device generates billing data based on actual network resource usage. | Fully Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to connection time of the network user device to the access gateway device. | Partially Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to the volume of data transferred by operation of the network user device | Fully Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to the volume of data transferred by the operation of the network user device. | Fully Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from AU8443398A:
“The idea of the invention is to use a start message to indicate the beginning of a single session when the user accesses the network. Charging can be based on time and volume of data transferred, and verification of charging records may involve digital signatures.”
#2. US20020133613A1
Filed on March 16, 2001, this related patent outlines a gateway-based metering and bandwidth management system that includes tools like usage tracking, traffic analyzers, and SNMP agents. The invention monitors IP traffic at the gateway level and includes mechanisms for throttling excessive bandwidth usage.
Source: US20020133613A1
Key Features of this Related Patent:
- Usage tracking at the gateway – The gateway monitors and analyzes IP traffic through integrated tracking tools, aligning with the concept of monitoring network resource usage.
- Partial billing system integration – There is mention of a billing system at the ISP’s end, which interacts with the gateway and tracks usage patterns, although it lacks specifics on verification from user devices.
- Data throttling based on usage – The system adjusts bandwidth in response to traffic volume, indirectly linking billing to resource usage.
- No comparison or correlation process – The patent does not describe comparing billing records between user device and gateway or storing data based on verification.
Which features of US8005457B2 are disclosed by US20020133613A1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A system enables verification of billing data received from a network resource access gateway operator by a billing service provider | Partially Disclosed |
| An access gateway device couples to a network user device and a billing service provider’s system. | Partially Disclosed |
| The network user device generates billing data based on actual network resource usage. | Partially Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to the volume of data transferred by the operation of the network user device. | Partially Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from US20020133613A1:
“The enhanced gateway or router 62 includes a Port-Based IP Traffic Analyzer 66, a Usage Tracking system 68, and a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Agent 70… If too much traffic is being seen from that address:port, the gateway will throttle traffic to and/or from that address:port… The billing system 72 may determine what constitutes ‘too much.’”
#3. CA2376309A1
Published on December 28, 2000, this related patent from Deutsche Telekom outlines a method and device for accessing telecommunications networks and managing billing for such services. The focus is on simplifying the classical billing structure by integrating user access with service validation.
Key Features of this Related Patent:
- Telecom service billing integration – The system incorporates billing mechanisms directly into the access structure, offering partial alignment with the subject patent.
- Access device connectivity – Describes a base station controller or relaying device connecting the user to the network, serving as an access gateway.
- Focus on entitlement and access control – The invention ensures that only authorized users can access services, though it does not reference billing data generation or storage at the access gateway level.
- No session metrics or data transfer tracking – Unlike US8005457B2, this patent does not specify billing based on time or data usage.
Which features of US8005457B2 are disclosed by CA2376309A1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A system enables verification of billing data received from a network resource access gateway operator by a billing service provider. | Partially Disclosed |
| An access gateway device couples to a network user device and a billing service provider’s system. | Partially Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from CA2376309A1:
“It is the problem of the invention to propose a system and a process for the access to telecommunication networks and for the billing of telecommunication services, which is simpler with respect to the classical methods…”
#4. US6240091B1
Published on May 29, 2001, this related patent by Nokia Telecommunications presents a comprehensive solution for billing network access services in connectionless networks using minimal equipment. The system introduces charging-related message generation and verification and highlights both time-based and volume-based billing models.
Key Features of this Related Patent:
- Full billing data verification – Describes how billing data is generated and verified, with paragraph 0024 referencing charging record validation, satisfying a primary feature of the subject patent.
- Gateway-device linkage – Outlines a connection flow where the user terminal communicates with the billing service provider via the access gateway, confirming the structural coupling.
- Terminal-generated billing records – The terminal (user device) generates charging messages tied to actual service use.
- Charging by time and data – Paragraphs 0015 and 0024 establish that charging may be based on connection duration or volume of transmitted data, aligning directly with the claim elements.
This is how feature mapping from the tool looks like:
Source: GPS
Which features of US8005457B2 are disclosed by US6240091B1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A system enables verification of billing data received from a network resource access gateway operator by a billing service provider. | Fully Disclosed |
| An access gateway device couples to a network user device and a billing service provider’s system | Fully Disclosed |
| The network user device generates billing data based on actual network resource usage. | Fully Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to connection time of the network user device to the access gateway device. | Fully Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to the connection time of the network user device to the access gateway device. | Fully Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from US6240091B1:
“The invention allows charging-related messages to be generated by the terminal based on network usage… and verified by the billing system. Charging can be calculated based on either the time of access or the volume of transmitted data.”
#5. CA2555767A1
Published on August 25, 2005, this related patent from Tatara Systems describes a Wi-Fi service delivery platform for retail service providers. It outlines a system where session data and network usage information are collected via a subscriber gateway and transmitted to the service provider for billing purposes.
Key Features of this Related Patent:
- Gateway-based session tracking – The system involves a subscriber gateway that manages and collects session data across multiple local area networks.
- Data volume monitoring – Network usage data, including bandwidth consumed, is collected for billing purposes, albeit without specific attribution to the user device’s data generation.
- Partial coupling to billing system – The gateway communicates with the service provider’s infrastructure but lacks a direct claim of coupling to a dedicated billing service provider system.
- No verification or comparison function – While it supports secure communication, the system does not perform real-time data validation or correlation between billing sources.
Which features of US8005457B2 are disclosed by CA2555767A1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A system enables verification of billing data received from a network resource access gateway operator by a billing service provider. | Partially Disclosed |
| An access gateway device couples to a network user device and a billing service provider’s system. | Partially Disclosed |
| The network user device generates billing data based on actual network resource usage. | Partially Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to connection time of the network user device to the access gateway device. | Partially Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to the connection time of the network user device to the access gateway device. | Partially Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from CA2555767A1:
“A gateway is provided for managing usage of a plurality of local area networks by subscribers… Session information and network usage data are collected and transmitted to a billing system for further processing.”
Feature Comparison Table
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | AU8443398A | US20020133613A1 | CA2376309A1 | US6240091B1 | CA2555767A1 |
| A system enables verification of billing data received from a network resource access gateway operator by a billing service provider. | Partially Disclosed | Partially Disclosed | Partially Disclosed | Fully Disclosed | Partially Disclosed |
| The network user device generates billing data based on actual network resource usage. | Fully Disclosed | Partially Disclosed | Partially Disclosed | Fully Disclosed | Partially Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to the volume of data transferred by operation of the network user device. | Partially Disclosed | Partially Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Fully Disclosed | Partially Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to the volume of data transferred by operation of the network user device | Fully Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Fully Disclosed | Partially Disclosed |
| The actual network resource usage corresponds to the volume of data transferred by the operation of the network user device. | Fully Disclosed | Partially Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Fully Disclosed | Partially Disclosed |
| The access gateway device compares received billing data from the network user device with corresponding billing data generated by the access gateway device. | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| The access gateway device stores predetermined portions of the received billing data if the received billing data correlates to the gateway-generated billing data. | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
How to Find Related Patents Using Global Patent Search
Locating related patents is essential when assessing the strength or vulnerability of a patent under litigation. The Global Patent Search (GPS) tool makes this process faster and far more precise. Here’s how:
Search by patent number or description: Enter the target patent number, like US8005457B2, or use keyword combinations to surface related technologies.
Source: GPS
Use feature mapping tools: GPS automatically analyzes claim language and matches it against thousands of global patent documents, highlighting overlap in technical features.
Review structured comparison reports: Quickly see how related patents align with specific claim elements, with side-by-side disclosure summaries that aid in legal strategy development.
Export and collaborate: Download structured reports to share with legal teams, experts, or clients, making it easier to build your defense or challenge.
Whether you are validating a patent’s originality or preparing for litigation, GPS gives you the insight to move confidently.
Take the Guesswork Out of Related Patent Research
When patents like US8005457B2 face legal scrutiny, every detail matters. However, finding related patents that could influence the outcome doesn’t have to be complicated.
With Global Patent Search, you get:
- Instant results – No more sifting through endless documents.
- Accurate feature mapping – Pinpoint how other patents align with your target claims.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The related patent references mentioned are preliminary results from the Global Patent Search (GPS) tool and do not guarantee legal significance. For a comprehensive related patent analysis, we recommend conducting a detailed search using GPS or consulting a patent attorney.
