Prepaid access to internet protocol (IP) networks
First Claim
1. A system for providing prepaid access for a terminal using a prepaid account to an Internet protocol (IP) network, the system comprising an access server, a prepaid server (PPS), and at least one connection to the IP network, wherein the PPS stores account information associated with the terminal, and wherein:
- the PPS is for;
receiving an access request from the access server;
authenticating the account; and
if the account was successfully authenticated sending to the access server an access accept message comprising at least one limit to the account'"'"'s allowed resource usage; and
the access server is for;
receiving an access accept message from the PPS;
allowing the terminal to access to the IP network; and
counting the account'"'"'s resource usage, and when the usage reaches the limit;
interrupting the terminal'"'"'s network access; and
sending an access request to the PPS.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a solution for prepaid access to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, and particularly a third generation (3G) network. A user has a prepaid account configured in his terminal and in a Prepaid Server (PPS). When the user wants to access the network, an access server requests that the PPS authenticates the terminal and, if accepted, responds with a message informing the access server of how much the terminal can utilise network resources before a re-authentication is necessary. When this limit is met, the access server re-requests authentication until the user disconnects or the account is exhausted, in which case the user is denied further access.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A system for providing prepaid access for a terminal using a prepaid account to an Internet protocol (IP) network, the system comprising an access server, a prepaid server (PPS), and at least one connection to the IP network, wherein the PPS stores account information associated with the terminal, and wherein:
the PPS is for;
receiving an access request from the access server;
authenticating the account; and
if the account was successfully authenticatedsending to the access server an access accept message comprising at least one limit to the account'"'"'s allowed resource usage; and
the access server is for;
receiving an access accept message from the PPS;
allowing the terminal to access to the IP network; and
counting the account'"'"'s resource usage, and when the usage reaches the limit;
interrupting the terminal'"'"'s network access; and
sending an access request to the PPS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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15. In a network, a method for providing prepaid access for a terminal using a prepaid account to an Internet protocol (IP) network, the network comprising an access server, a prepaid server (PPS), and at least one connection to the IP network, the PPS storing account information associated with the terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
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sending from the PPS to the access server an access accept message comprising at least one limit to the account'"'"'s allowed resource usage; and
upon reception of the access accept message by the access server;
allowing the terminal to access the IP network; and
counting the account'"'"'s resource usage; and
when the usage reaches the limit;
interrupting the terminal'"'"'s network access; and
sending an access request to the PPS.
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29. An access server in a network for providing prepaid access for a terminal using a prepaid account to an Internet protocol (IP) network, the network further comprising a prepaid server (PPS), and at least one connection to the IP network, wherein the PPS stores account information associated with the terminal, and wherein the access server comprises:
a first communication unit for;
receiving from the PPS an access accept message comprising at least one limit to the account'"'"'s allowed resource usage; and
sending an access request to the PPS; and
a network access control unit for;
allowing the terminal to access to the IP network;
counting the account'"'"'s resource usage; and
when the usage reaches the at least one limit;
interrupting the terminal'"'"'s network access.
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39. A prepaid server (PPS) in a network for providing prepaid access to an Internet protocol (IP) network for a terminal using a prepaid account, the network further comprising an access server, and at least one connection to the IP network, and wherein the PPS comprises:
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a memory for storing account information associated with the terminal;
an authentication unit for authenticating the account; and
a communication unit for;
receiving an access request from the access server; and
if the account was successfully authenticated, sending to the access server an access accept message comprising at least one limit to the account'"'"'s allowed resource usage.
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Specification