Signaling system and method for network-based pre-paid wireless telephone service

• US 20020111153A1
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael T. Wilhoite, Peter Hartmaier
• Original Assignee: Michael T. Wilhoite, Peter Hartmaier
• Inventors: Wilhoite, Michael T., Hartmaier, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/122,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• 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 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13092 Scanning of subscriber lines, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A pre-paid subscriber account system for use with wireless telephone systems is disclosed. The system, which monitors a subscriber'"'"'s call, deducts the cost of the call from the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account in real-time, warns the subscriber during a call when the account is nearing depletion, and terminates the call when the account is depleted. The system can also prevent the initiation of a new call when the account is depleted. The system and method uses signaling techniques that will allow the metering or billing of the call, along with any authorization or restrictions, to be done remotely from the actual switching of the call. Call events or chargeable events are transmitted to the pre-paid control system while the communications path of the call is held at the switching system awaiting control information.

Claims

1. A method for providing prepaid wireless communications services using a prepaid account monitoring application at a Service Control Point (SCP) comprising:

receiving an origination request message from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;

sending a origination request response message to the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;

monitoring a prepaid account balance associated with the wireless device;

detecting when the prepaid account balance reaches a predetermined threshold amount;

sending a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device; and

receiving a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining when a call in progress should be disconnected;

sending a message directing the MSC to disconnect the call; and

receiving a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is still in progress.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.

5. A method for providing prepaid wireless communications services using a prepaid account monitoring application that is provided by a device remote from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), comprising:

sending an origination request message from the MSC, the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;

receiving a origination request response message at the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;

connecting the wireless device to a called number;

receiving a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device;

playing a warning message to the wireless device; and

sending a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving a message directing the MSC to disconnect a call connection for the wireless device;

disconnecting the call connection; and

sending a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving a message at the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

sending a response message from the MSC indicating that said call connection is still in progress.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving a message at the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

sending a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.

9. A Service Control Point (SCP) for providing prepaid wireless communications services using a prepaid account monitoring application at the SCP, comprising:

means for receiving an origination request message from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;

means for sending a origination request response message to the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;

means for monitoring a prepaid account balance associated with the wireless device;

means for detecting when the prepaid account balance reaches a predetermined threshold amount;

means for sending a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device; and

means for receiving a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.

10. The SCP of claim 9 further comprising:

means for determining when a call in progress should be disconnected;

means for sending a message directing the MSC to disconnect the call; and

means for receiving a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.

11. The SCP of claim 9 further comprising:

means for sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

means for receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is still in progress.

12. The SCP of claim 9 further comprising:

means for sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

means for receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.

14. The MSC of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving a message directing the MSC to disconnect a call connection for the wireless device;

means for disconnecting the call connection; and

means for sending a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.

15. The MSC of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving a message at the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

means for sending a response message from the MSC indicating that said call connection is still in progress.

16. The MSC of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving a message at the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

means for sending a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

code for determining when a call in progress should be disconnected;

code for sending a message directing the MSC to disconnect the call; and

code for receiving a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

code for sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

code for receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is still in progress.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

code for sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and

code for receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.

13. A Mobile Switching Center (MSC) for providing prepaid wireless communications services using a prepaid account monitoring application that is provided by a device remote from the MSC, comprising:

means for sending an origination request message from the MSC, the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;

means for receiving a origination request response message at the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;

means for connecting the wireless device to a called number;

means for receiving a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device;

means for playing a warning message to the wireless device; and

means for sending a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.

17. A computer program product having a memory with computer code stored thereon, the computer code for providing prepaid wireless communications services, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving an origination request message from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;

code for sending a origination request response message to the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;

code for monitoring a prepaid account balance associated with the wireless device;

code for detecting when the prepaid account balance reaches a predetermined threshold amount;

code for sending a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device; and

code for receiving a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.