TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of machine-to-machine type communications, and more particularly, relates to system and method for managing subscriber devices associated with a subscriber in the machine-to-machine type communications.
BACKGROUND
[0002] With the advent of mass market digital communications and content distribution, many access networks such as wireless networks, cable networks and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) networks are pressed for user capacity, with, for example, EVDO (Evolution-Data Optimized), HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) wireless networks increasingly becoming user capacity constrained. Although wireless network capacity is increasing with new higher capacity wireless radio access technologies, such as 5G, MFMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output), and with more frequency spectrum being deployed in the future, these capacity gains are likely to be less than what is required to meet growing digital networking demand. Further, service consumption habits are trending toward very high bandwidth applications that can quickly consume the available capacity and degrade overall network service experience. The technologies, such as 5G, MFMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output), brings massive machine-to-machine communication that will lead to many devices consuming same quota, such as, monetary, non-monetary, access same subscriber profile at the same time. This high density of transactions will read and update the same information and will generate a slow or delayed response. Some of the prior art references are given below:
[0003] US10200542B2 discloses a method which enables intelligently and dynamically allocating granular quotas and/or accurately and efficiently monitoring usage or consumption of services against balance thresholds so as to avoid frequent threshold breaches, ensure that the required subscriber notifications and/or changes to service levels are triggered and executed in a timely manner,

thus avoiding production loss to a mobile network operator. The method enables maintaining speed of transactional updates to shared balances so as to reduce or prevent inadvertent balance threshold breaches, reduce latency and improve performance of a telecommunication system.
[0004] US20120272237A1 discloses a method that enables allowing a management agent to manage the storage quotas for the VMs without any need to synchronize with host machines or virtualization managers when the management agent receives storage quota portion information, thus reducing overhead and network traffic, and hence reducing consumption of network resources and host machine resources in a simple manner.
[0005] US6832248B1 allows the use of classes to provide highly customizable and easy to use resource usage management for the expanding need of customers. This provides a quota management system in variety of process models such as single process, multiple processes or as distributed processes on multiple machines. Also, this provides quota usage tracking for gathering quota usage information for a partition of a file system.
[0006] While the prior arts cover various approaches to overcome the above stated drawbacks, there are no significant considerations to counter drawbacks associated with consuming the same quota by many devices which accesses same subscriber profile at the same time and slow or delayed response due to high density of transactions. In light of the above-stated discussion, there is a need to overcome the above stated disadvantages.
OBJECT OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] A primary object of the present disclosure is to provide a virtual subscriber management system and method to manage queries and requests received from subscriber devices.
[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide the virtual subscriber management system and method to off-load a database by distributing balance.

[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide the virtual subscriber management system and method to create virtual subscriber profile and multiple virtual subscriber quota blocks.
SUMMARY
[0010] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a system and method for managing subscriber devices in machine-to-machine type communications. The method includes a first step to fetch a first set of data associated with a subscriber from a database at a virtual subscriber management system. The first set of data includes a subscriber profile and a subscription information. In addition, the method includes a second step to receive a second set of data associated with a balance information from the database at the virtual subscriber management system. Further, the method includes a third step to create a virtual subscriber profile based on analysis of the first set of data fetched from the database at the virtual subscriber management system. Furthermore, the method includes a fourth step to generate a plurality of virtual subscriber quotas based on analysis of the first set of data and the second set of data received from the database at the virtual subscriber management system. Moreover, the method includes a fifth step perform at least one of maintaining and determining an available balance quota and a set of identifiers that are associated with the subscriber. The set of identifiers includes one of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network number (MSISDN), Mobile Station Identification Number (MSID), Mobile Identification Number (MIN), Network Access Identity (NAI) and International Mobile Subscriber Identity (FMSI). The method further includes receiving a request from the plurality of subscriber devices to access a total balance quota present in the database with respect to a packet session associated with a specified connection identifier. The virtual subscriber management system equally distributes the total balance quota present in the database into the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas. The method further includes obtaining a subsequent request from the plurality of subscriber devices to access at least one of the available balance quota and the total balance quota

present in the database with respect to the packet session associated with the specified connection identifier. The subsequent request is processed by the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas.
[0011] These and other aspects herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention herein without departing from the spirit thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0012] The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the drawings. The invention herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive computing environment to manage a plurality of subscriber devices in machine-to-machine type communications.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a first exemplary sequence of actions carried out by a virtual subscriber management system to create a virtual subscriber profile and a plurality of virtual subscriber quotas.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a second exemplary sequence of actions carried out by the virtual subscriber management system to respond to a subsequent request obtained from a plurality of subscriber devices.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a third exemplary sequence of actions carried out by the virtual subscriber management system to enable the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas to update a database.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a first example of creating the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas for a database.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a second example of managing a total balance quota present a database.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a computing device.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method to manage the plurality of subscriber devices in the machine-to-machine type communications.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced with or without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures and components have not been described in details so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention.
[0022] Furthermore, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to these alternatives only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without parting from the scope of the invention.
[0023] The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the alternatives presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings. Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are generally only used to distinguish one element from another.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive computing environment 100 to manage a plurality of subscriber devices 102 may include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, smartphones, PCs and minicomputers, whether desktop, laptop, or otherwise, as well as mobile devices such as handheld computers, PDAs, video cameras, set-top boxes, personal media devices (PMDs), computerized cards or plug-ins, or any combinations of the foregoing in machine-to-machine type communications where machine-to-machine (M2M) communications is an emerging technology that envisions the interconnection of machines without the need of human intervention. The main concept lies in

seamlessly connecting an autonomous and self-organizing network of M2M-capable devices to a remote client, through heterogeneous wired or wireless communication networks. The interactive computing environment 100 includes the plurality of subscriber devices 102, a gateway 104, a policy and charging control (PCC) rule engine 106, a virtual subscriber management system 108, a server 110, a database 112, and an administrator 114. The above stated elements of the interactive computing environment 100 operate coherently and synchronously to manage the plurality of subscriber devices 102 in machine-to-machine type communications.
[0025] Further, the virtual subscriber management system 108 is associated with the server 110. Alternatively, the virtual subscriber management system 108 is installed at a plurality of servers. In general, a server refers to a computer that provides data to other computers. It may serve data to systems on a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) over the Internet. Many types of servers exist, including web servers, mail servers, file servers, and the like. Each type of server runs software specific to the purpose of the server. For example, a Web server may run Apache HTTP Server or Microsoft IIS, which both provide access to websites over the Internet. A mail server may run a program like Exim or I Mail, which provides SMTP services for sending and receiving the email. A file server might use Samba or the operating system's built-in file-sharing services to share files over a network. While server software is specific to the type of server, the hardware is not as important. In fact, a regular desktop computer can be turned into a server by adding the appropriate software. For example, a computer connected to a home network can be designated as a file server, print server, or both. In another example, the plurality of servers may include a database server, file server, application server and the like. The plurality of servers communicates with each other using the communication network 106.
[0026] In an example, the virtual subscriber management system 108 is located in the PCC rule engine 106 In another example, the virtual subscriber management system 108 is connected with the server 110. In yet another example, the server 110 is a part of the virtual subscriber management system 108. Further,

the server 110 receives data from the database 112. In an example, the virtual subscriber management system 108 can be programmed on any programming language.
[0027] The interactive computing environment 100 includes the database 112. Generally, a database refers to a data structure that stores organized information. Most database contain multiple tables, which may each include several different fields. Each of these tables would have different fields that are relevant to the information stored in the table. In an example, a virtual subscriber profile 204 and a plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 where quotas are proportional part or share of a fixed total amount or quantity, are stored on the database 112. In addition, the virtual subscriber profile 204 and the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 available on the one or more web-based platforms may include data and information of the plurality of subscribe devices 102 available on the one or more social networking platforms. In an example, the social networking platform includes Facebook, Instagram, Linkedln, Twitter, and the like.
[0028] In addition, the virtual subscriber management system 108 includes one or more processors, a signal generator circuitry embedded inside a computing device for generating a signal, and a memory. The memory is coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores instructions. The instructions are executed by the one or more processors. The execution of the instructions causes the one or more processors to perform a method to manage the plurality of subscriber devices 102 in machine-to-machine type communications. The method includes a step to fetch a first set of data associated with a subscriber from the database 112. The first set of data includes a subscriber profile and a subscription information. The method includes another step to receive a second set of data associated with a balance information from the database 112. The method includes yet another step to create the virtual subscriber profile 204 based on analysis of the first set of data fetched from the database 112. The method includes yet another step to generate the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 based on analysis of the first set of data and the second set of data received from the database 112. The method

includes yet another step to perform at least one of maintaining and determining an available balance quota and a set of identifiers that are associated with the subscriber.
[0029] Further, the method includes yet another step to receive a request from the plurality of subscriber devices 102 for accessing a total balance quota present in the database 112 with respect to a packet session associated with a specified connection identifier. The virtual subscriber management system 108 equally distributes the total balance quota present in the database 112 into the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202. The method includes yet another step to obtain a subsequent request from the plurality of subscriber devices 102 for accessing at least one of the available balance quota and the total balance quota present in the database 112 with respect to the packet session associated with the specified connection identifier where the connection identifier is used to identify the associated connection. The subsequent request is processed by the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202. The method includes yet another step to divert the subsequent request obtained from the plurality of subscriber devices 102 to the database 112 if balance allocated in each of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 is below as per the subsequent request.
[0030] Furthermore, the method includes yet another step to merge at least two virtual subscriber quotas of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 if the subsequent request requires an additional balance than balance allocated in each of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202. Also, the merging of the at least two virtual subscriber quotas of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 forms a large block (combination of blocks) of subscriber quota to execute the subsequent request.
[0031] Also, the method includes yet another step to synchronize the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 with the database 112. In an example, the synchronization enables the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 to update the database 112 about a set of parameters for the subsequent request. In addition, the set of parameters includes but may not be limited to the available balance quota, consumed quota, and the set of identifiers. Further, the set of identifiers

includes one of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network number (MSISDN), Mobile Station Identification Number (MSID), Mobile Identification Number (MIN), Network Access Identity (NAI), International Mobile Subscriber Identity (FMSI), and the like.
[0032] Furthermore, the method includes yet another step to dynamically allocate balance into the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 from the total balance quota present in the database 112 based on the request from the plurality of subscriber devices 102. Moreover, the method includes yet another step to feed distribution process of the total balance quota present to an intelligence module. The intelligence module predicts an optimal value of each of plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 for each of the set of identifiers. In an example, the intelligence module predicts with the facilitation of one or more machine learning algorithms in real-time. In general, machine learning is referred to as an artificial intelligence application that offers devices with the capacity to learn and enhance automatically from experience without explicit programming. Also, the one or more machine learning algorithms may include decision tree machine learning algorithm, random forest machine learning algorithm, naive bayes classifier machine learning algorithm. In addition, the one or more machine learning algorithm may further includes support vector machine learning algorithm, k-nearest neighbors machine learning algorithm, linear regression machine learning algorithm, and the like.
[0033] In an example, # of the virtual subscriber profile (vsPro) 204 is introduced for subscriber profile and the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (vsQuota) 202 for monetary and non-monetary balances. All requests (Create/Update/Terminate for 5G charging function) go to vsPro and vsQuota in round robin manner to consume quota evenly from each vsQuota. In addition, instead of reading and updating the original profile all transactions read/update the vsPro and vsQuota. Further, original monetary and non-monetary quota is distributed evenly between vsQuota and replenished intermittently to maintain valid balance or total balance. Furthermore, if none of the vsQuota balance is enough to support the request the request may directly go to database. Moreover,

number of vsQuota can be merged to create the vsQuota big enough to support the transactions. Also, the original quota is updated intermittently from vsQuota. Also, on each request the plurality of subscribe devices 102 are assigned with a random quota from vsQuota from a fixed range to avoid burst of events on the subsequent requests. Also, on each request the plurality of subscribe devices 102 are assigned with a random quota a random maximum wait duration from the fixed range to avoid burst of events on the subsequent requests. In an example, maximum wait duration can be set on a random range of the balance for requests so that consumption of balance, the plurality of subscribe devices 102 request is alive or failed can be judged and to reduce the burst of request at a time. In addition, over the period of time quota consumed by each of the plurality of subscribe devices 102 are fed to the intelligence module to predict the right value of quota for each of the plurality of subscribe devices 102 id. The plurality of subscribe devices 102 can be grouped into categories for quota/interval assignment (e.g., XS/S/M/L/XL). Machine-to-machine communication (M2M communication) can be on data or event type of packages. In case of an event, it does not require session handling, thereby, high traffic is avoided. Also, this enables reduction in the load on the database 112. Additionally, in a case POD (point of delivery) goes down, new POD will handle the request by creating new vsQuotas and vsPro, thereby, robust and reliable management of the plurality of subscriber devices 102 in machine-to-machine type communications is achieved.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a first exemplary sequence of actions 200 carried out by to create the virtual subscriber profile 204 and the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202. Init request 1 is initiated from the gateway 104 and contacts the PCC rule engine 106. In general, PCC rule engine is a software node designated in real-time to determine policy rules in a multimedia network. The PCC rule is the part of the network architecture that aggregates information to and from the network, operational support systems, and other sources (such as portals) in real time, supporting the creation of rules and then automatically making policy decisions for each subscriber active on the network. Such a network might offer multiple services, quality of service (QoS) levels, and charging rules. In an

example, the PCC rule engine 106 is a part of the virtual subscriber management system 108. In another example, the PCC rule engine 106 is independent of the virtual subscriber management system 108. In yet another example, the PCC rule engine 106 operates coherently and synchronously with the virtual subscriber management system 108 to manage the plurality of subscriber devices 102 in the machine-to-machine type communications. In further example. The PCC rule engine 106 contacts the database 112 to fetch one or more subscriber data. The one or more data include but may not be limited to subscriber profile, subscriber details, and balance details. Further, the database 112 provides the one or more subscriber data. Furthermore, the PCC rule engine 106 creates the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202. Moreover, the PCC rule engine 106 creates the virtual subscriber profile 204.
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a second exemplary sequence of actions 300 carried out by the virtual subscriber management system 108 to respond to the subsequent request obtained from the plurality of subscriber devices 102. Init request 2 is initiated from the gateway 104 and contacts the PCC rule engine 106. The PCC rule engine 106 fetch the subscriber details from the virtual subscriber profile 204. Further, the PCC rule engine 106 fetch the quota details from any of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202. Additionally, the PCC rule engine 106 gives feedback or response to the gateway 104.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a third exemplary sequence of actions 400 carried out by the virtual subscriber management system 108 to enable the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 to update the database 112. The gateway 104 initiates update request 2 and send to the PCC rule engine 106. The PCC rule engine 106 contacts the virtual subscriber profile 204 to fetch the subscriber details. Further, the PCC rule engine 106 fetch the quota details from any of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202. In addition, the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 are synchronized time to time from the database 112. Additionally, the PCC rule engine 106 gives feedback or response to the gateway 104.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a first example of creating the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas for a volt database 500 or any other database but not limited to volt database 500. Number of devices are connected to the PCC rule engine 106, such as, device 1, device N. In an example, the PCC rule engine 106 includes vsPro, vsQuota 1, vsQuota 2, vsQuota 3, vsQuota 4, vsQuota N. Further, the PCC rule engine 106 is interactively connected with the database. In an example, the PCC rule engine 106 share data with the database. In another example, the database share data with the PCC rule engine 106.
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates a second example of managing the total balance quota present for the database 600. For example, the PCC rule engine 106 got request from 5 devices such as device 1, device 2, device 3, device 4, device 5. Further, the total balance quota present in the database is 100MB. The PCC rule engine may distribute vsQuota equally of 20MB amount each. For example, the device 1 may receive 20MB of vsQuota, the device 2 may receive 20MB of vsQuota, the device 3 may receive 20MB of vsQuota, the device 4 may receive 20MB of vsQuota, the device 5 may receive 20MB of vsQuota. Alternatively, if there is the device requesting 60MB of balance and there are five blocks as discussed in previous example, two blocks are processing requests for the devices, and three blocks are free. Now, the three blocks combine into one big block, to fulfil the request of 60MB. In yet another example, if any of the blocks is not available to process the request, then the request directly routes towards the database 112. In yet another example, when randomness is added to the block: there are devices requesting for the balance, now if the 100MB distributes as per the request, (example, there are two IoT devices, a smartwatch, and a mobile phone, then the watch needs less MB of data, and the phone requires more MB of data. So, randomly allocating data based on requirement. Then, allocating 5MB balance to the smartwatch and 20MB to the mobile phone). In this way, the bust of requests at a time is managed effectively. In general, Internet of things (IoT) is referred to the network of physical objects "things" that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the Internet. Generally, IoT

enabled devices may include wireless sensors, software, actuators, and computer devices. The IoT enabled devices are attached to a particular object that operates through the internet, enabling the transfer of data among objects or people automatically without human intervention. For Example: smartphone, smart refrigerator, smartwatch, smart fire alarm, smart door lock, smart bicycle, medical sensors, fitness trackers, smart security system, and the like.
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a computing device 700. The computing device 700 includes a bus 702 that directly or indirectly couples the following devices: memory 704, one or more processors 706, one or more presentation components 708, one or more input/output (I/O) ports 710, one or more input/output components 712, and an illustrative power supply 714. The bus 702 represents what may be one or more busses (such as an address bus, data bus, or combination thereof). Although the various blocks of FIG. 7 are shown with lines for the sake of clarity, in reality, delineating various components is not so clear, and metaphorically, the lines would more accurately be grey and fuzzy. For example, one may consider a presentation component such as a display device to be an I/O component. Also, processors have memory. The inventors recognize that such is the nature of the art, and reiterate that the diagram of FIG. 7 is merely illustrative of an exemplary computing device 700 that can be used in connection with one or more aspects of the present invention. The distinction is not made between such categories as "workstation," "server," "laptop," "hand-held device," etc., as all are contemplated within the scope of FIG. 7 and reference to "computing device."
[0040] The computing device 700 typically includes a variety of computer-readable media. The computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computing device 700 and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, the computer-readable media may comprise computer readable storage media and communication media. The computer readable storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media

implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.
[0041] The computer-readable storage media with memory 704 includes, but is not limited to, non-transitory computer readable media that stores program code and/or data for longer periods of time such as secondary or persistent long term storage, like RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computing device 700. The computer-readable storage media associated with the memory 704 and/or other computer-readable media described herein can be considered computer readable storage media for example, or a tangible storage device. The communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and in such a includes any information delivery media. The term "modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. The computing device 700 includes one or more processors that read data from various entities such as the memory 704 or one or more I/O components 712. The one or more presentation components 708 present data indications to a user or other device. Exemplary presentation components include a display device, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, etc. The one or more I/O ports 710 allow the computing device 700 to be logically coupled to other devices including the one or more I/O components 712, some of which may be built in. Illustrative components include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, etc.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a flow chart 800 illustrating a method to manage the plurality of subscriber devices in the machine-to-machine type communications in conjunction with FIG. 1.
[0043] At step 802, the method includes fetching, at the virtual subscriber management system 108, the first set of data associated with the subscriber from the database 112, wherein the first set of data comprises a subscriber profile and a subscription information.
[0044] At step 804, the method includes receiving, at the virtual subscriber management system 108, the second set of data associated with the balance information from the database 112.
[0045] At step 806, the method includes creating, at the virtual subscriber management system 108, the virtual subscriber profile 204 based on analysis of the first set of data fetched from the database 112.
[0046] At step 808, the method includes generating, at the virtual subscriber management system 108, the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas 202 based on analysis of the first set of data and the second set of data received from the database.
[0047] Lastly, at step 810, the method includes performing, at the virtual subscriber management system 108, at least one of maintaining and determining the available balance quota and the set of identifiers that are associated with the subscriber.
[0048] The various actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like in the flow chart may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some implementations, some of the actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like may be omitted, added, modified, skipped, or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0049] Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, "can," "may," "might," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain alternatives include, while other alternatives do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not

generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more alternatives or that one or more alternatives necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without other input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular alternative. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.
[0050] Disjunctive language such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, Z," unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain alternatives require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.
[0051] While the detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features as applied to various alternatives, it can be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices or algorithms illustrated can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As can be recognized, certain alternatives described herein can be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features can be used or practiced separately from others.

CLAIMS

We Claim:

1. A method for managing a plurality of subscriber devices (102) in machine-
to-machine type communications, the method comprising:
fetching, at a virtual subscriber management system (108), a first set of data associated with a subscriber from a database (112), wherein the first set of data comprises a subscriber profile and a subscription information;
receiving, at the virtual subscriber management system (108), a second set of data associated with a balance information from the database (H2);
creating, at the virtual subscriber management system (108), a virtual subscriber profile (204) based on analysis of the first set of data fetched from the database (112);
generating, at the virtual subscriber management system (108), a plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) based on analysis of the first set of data and the second set of data received from the database (112); and
performing, at the virtual subscriber management system (108), at least one of maintaining and determining an available balance quota and a set of identifiers that are associated with the subscriber.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the
virtual subscriber management system (108), a request from the plurality of
subscriber devices (102) for accessing a total balance quota present in the
database (112) with respect to a packet session associated with a specified
connection identifier, wherein the virtual subscriber management system (108)
equally distributes the total balance quota present in the database (112) into the
plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising obtaining, at the virtual subscriber management system (108), a subsequent request from the plurality of subscriber devices (102) for accessing at least one of the available balance quota and a total balance quota present in the database (112) with respect to a packet session associated with a specified connection identifier, wherein the subsequent request is processed by the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202).
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising diverting, by the virtual subscriber management system (108), a subsequent request obtained from the plurality of subscriber devices (102) to the database (112) if balance allocated in each of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) is below as per the subsequent request.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising merging, at the virtual subscriber management system (108), at least two virtual subscriber quotas of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) if a subsequent request require an additional balance than balance allocated in each of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202), wherein the merging of the at least two virtual subscriber quotas of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) forms a large block of subscriber quota to execute the subsequent request.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising synchronizing, at the virtual subscriber management system (108), the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) with the database (112), wherein the synchronization enables the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) to update the database (112) about a set of parameters for a subsequent request, wherein the set of parameters comprising the available balance quota, consumed quota and the set of identifiers.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of identifiers comprising one of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network number (MSISDN), Mobile Station Identification Number (MSID), Mobile Identification

Number (MIN), Network Access Identity (NAI), and International Mobile Subscriber Identity (EVISI).
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising dynamically allocating, by the virtual subscriber management system (108), balance into the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) from the total balance quota present in the database (112) based on a request from the plurality of subscriber devices (102).
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising feeding, by the virtual subscriber management system (108), distribution process of a total balance quota present to an intelligence module, wherein the intelligence module predicts an optimal value of each of plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) for each of the set of identifiers.
10. A system (100) for managing a plurality of subscriber devices (102) in machine-to-machine type communications, the system (100) comprising a virtual subscriber management system (108) configured to:
fetch a first set of data associated with a subscriber from a database (112), wherein the first set of data comprises a subscriber profile and a subscription information;
receive a second set of data associated with a balance information from the database (112);
create a virtual subscriber profile (204) based on analysis of the first set of data fetched from the database (112);
generate a plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) based on analysis of the first set of data and the second set of data received from the database (112); and

perform at least one of maintaining and determining an available balance quota and a set of identifiers that are associated with the subscriber.
11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the virtual subscriber management system (108) receives a request from the plurality of subscriber devices (102) for accessing a total balance quota present in the database (112) with respect to a packet session associated with a specified connection identifier and the virtual subscriber management system (108) equally distributes the total balance quota present in the database (112) into the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202).
12. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the virtual subscriber management system (108) obtains a subsequent request from the plurality of subscriber devices (102) for accessing at least one of the available balance quota and a total balance quota present in the database (112) with respect to a packet session associated with a specified connection identifier, wherein the subsequent request is processed by the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202).
13. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the virtual subscriber management system (108) diverts a subsequent request obtained from the plurality of subscriber devices (102) to the database (112) if balance allocated in each of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) is below as per the subsequent request.
14. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the virtual subscriber management system (108) merges at least two virtual subscriber quotas of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) if a subsequent request require an additional balance than balance allocated in each of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202), where merging of the at least two virtual subscriber

quotas of the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) forms a large block of subscriber quota to execute the subsequent request.
15. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the virtual subscriber management system (108) synchronizes the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) with the database (112), the synchronization enables the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) to update the database (112) about a set of parameters for a subsequent request, wherein the set of parameters comprising the available balance quota, consumed quota and the set of identifiers.
16. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the set of identifiers comprising one of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network number (MSISDN), Mobile Station Identification Number (MSID), Mobile Identification Number (MIN), Network Access Identity (NAI), and International Mobile Subscriber Identity (EVISI).
17. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the virtual subscriber management system (108) dynamically allocates balance into the plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) from the total balance quota present in the database (112) based on a request from the plurality of subscriber devices (102).
18. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the virtual subscriber management system (108) feeds distribution process of a total balance quota present to an intelligence module and the intelligence module predicts an optimal value of each of plurality of virtual subscriber quotas (202) for each of the set of identifiers.