Patent ID: 7613445

Claim:
A computer-readable storage medium having executable computer program instructions recorded thereon for controlling costs associated with access to a mobile data service through a mobile device, the computer program instructions comprising instructions for: acquiring information regarding mobile data services available for a program on the mobile device at a current time in a current location to access to perform a function, wherein the information acquired is represented in one or more records, and a record uniquely represents the mobile device's position in a multi-dimensional space including dimensions for mobile space, time, and mobile service; assessing the costs for accessing the available mobile data services by the mobile device at the current time in the current location; prioritizing the available mobile data services based on the costs to select a preferred mobile data service for access by the program, wherein prioritizing the available mobile data service comprises ordering the available mobile data services according to an expense to access the services at a current time and location; determining a value of the function based on a level of importance associated with the function; comparing the value to the costs for accessing the preferred mobile data service; and determining whether to allow the program to access the preferred mobile data service based on the comparison.