Method and apparatus for managing access to a prepaid account

• US 20020103762A1
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Garza, Juan Sanchez, Morales, Omar Torres, Lopez, Cesar Garcia
• Application Number:
  US09/770,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103762A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/63
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users

Abstract

A prepaid communications account is shared by at least a first subscriber and a second subscriber whereby access to the prepaid account is locked in response to a first prepaid call originating from the first subscriber. A first portion of the total prepaid talk time in the account is allocated to the first prepaid call. The total prepaid talk time is updated as a first updated prepaid talk time by subtracting the first portion from the total prepaid talk time; unlocking access to the prepaid account; and, while the first prepaid call is ongoing, locking access to the prepaid account in response to a second prepaid call originating from the second subscriber. A second portion of the first updated prepaid talk time is allocated to the second prepaid call. The first updated prepaid talk time is updated to provide a second updated prepaid talk time by subtracting the second portion from the first updated prepaid talk time; and access to the prepaid account is unlocked.

A database is utilized for managing access to a prepaid communications account shared by at least a first subscriber and a second subscriber and includes identity fields and associated remaining talk time fields for the subscribers and an associated sponsor identity field.

A memory element is used to store a database for managing access to a prepaid communications account shared by at least a first subscriber and a second subscriber and includes memory locations for the identities and associated talk times and a sponsor identity memory location associated with the first and second identity memory locations.

Claims

1. A method of managing access to a prepaid communications account shared by at least a first subscriber and a second subscriber, comprising the steps of:

locking access to the prepaid account in response to a first prepaid call origination from the first subscriber;

allocating a first portion of a total prepaid talk time to a first prepaid call to be established responsive to the first prepaid call origination;

updating the total prepaid talk time to provide a first updated prepaid talk time by subtracting the first portion from the total prepaid talk time;

unlocking access to the prepaid account; and

while the first prepaid call is established, locking access to the prepaid account in response to a second prepaid call origination from the second subscriber;

allocating a second portion of the first updated prepaid talk time to a second prepaid call to be established responsive to the second prepaid call origination;

updating the first updated prepaid talk time to provide a second updated prepaid talk time by subtracting the second portion from the first updated prepaid talk time; and

unlocking access to the prepaid account.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the prepaid communications account is associated with a prepaid telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

receiving the first prepaid call origination including the prepaid telephone number from the first subscriber.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of:

receiving the second prepaid call origination including the prepaid telephone number from the second subscriber.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a first call connection is established between the first subscriber and the prepaid telephone number.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a second call connection is established between the second subscriber and the prepaid telephone number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first prepaid call is established between the first subscriber and a first called party.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the prepaid communications account is associated with a prepaid telephone number, and wherein the first called party is associated with a first called party telephone number, further including the step of:

receiving the first prepaid call origination including the prepaid telephone number and the first called party telephone number.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second prepaid call is established between the second subscriber and a second called party.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second called party is associated with a second called party telephone number, further including the step of:

receiving the second prepaid call origination including the prepaid telephone number and the second called party telephone number.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

announcing the first portion of the total prepaid talk time to the first subscriber.

12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of:

announcing the second portion of the first updated prepaid talk time to the second subscriber.

13. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

monitoring an unused portion of the first portion of the total prepaid talk time as a remaining portion that is reduced while the first prepaid call is established.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the remaining portion is about equal to zero, further including the step of:

dropping the established first prepaid call.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the established first prepaid call is terminated, and wherein the remaining portion is about greater than zero, further including the steps of:

locking access to the prepaid account;

updating the previously updated prepaid talk time by adding the remaining portion to the previously updated prepaid talk time; and

unlocking access to the prepaid account.

16. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:

locking access to the prepaid account;

allocating an additional portion of the first updated prepaid talk time to the first prepaid call before the remaining portion is about equal to zero;

updating the remaining portion by adding the additional portion to the remaining portion; and

unlocking access to the prepaid account.

17. The method of claim 13, further including the step of:

announcing the remaining portion to the first subscriber.

18. The method of claim 13, further including the step of:

announcing the remaining portion to the first subscriber on a preselected periodic basis.

20. The database of claim 19, further including:

a first network reference field associated with the first identity field.

21. The database of claim 20, further including:

a second network reference field associated with the second identity field.

19. A database for managing access to a prepaid communications account shared by at least a first subscriber and a second subscriber, including:

a first identity field for the first subscriber;

a first remaining talk time field associated with the first identity field;

a first time/credit rate field associated with the first identity field;

a second identity field for the second subscriber;

a second remaining talk time field associated with the second identity field;

a second time/credit rate field associated with the second identity field; and

a sponsor identity field associated with the first and second identity fields.

22. A memory element used to store a database for managing access to a prepaid communications account shared by at least a first subscriber and a second subscriber, including:

a first identity memory location associated with the first subscriber;

a first remaining talk time memory location associated with the first identity memory location;

a second identity memory location associated with the second subscriber;

a second remaining talk time memory location associated with the second identity memory location; and

a sponsor identity memory location associated with the first and second identity memory locations.

23. The memory element of claim 22, including:

a first network reference memory location associated with the first identity memory location.

24. The memory element of claim 23, including:

a second network reference memory location associated with the second identity memory location.