Method and apparatus for location-sensitive, subsidized cell phone billing
First Claim
1. A method for determining the billing rate of mobile telecommunications connections, comprising the steps of:
- a. determining whether a location of a mobile telecommunications unit (MU) is within a predetermined subsidized zone; and
b. reducing a standard billing rate for a telecommunications connection associated with the MU when the location of the MU is within the predetermined subsidized zone during at least a portion of the telecommunications connection, wherein the predetermined subsidized zone is associated with a proximity to a commercial establishment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for determining a billing rate of a telecommunications connection is disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. The geographic location of a mobile unit (MU) is determined, and compared to a list a predetermined subsidized zones. When the MU initiates or receives a call from within a subsidized zone, and the MU is otherwise responsible for paying a predetermined billing rate associated with the call, the predetermined rate is subsidized for at least the portion of the call made while the MU is located within the subsidized zone.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for determining the billing rate of mobile telecommunications connections, comprising the steps of:
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a. determining whether a location of a mobile telecommunications unit (MU) is within a predetermined subsidized zone; and
b. reducing a standard billing rate for a telecommunications connection associated with the MU when the location of the MU is within the predetermined subsidized zone during at least a portion of the telecommunications connection, wherein the predetermined subsidized zone is associated with a proximity to a commercial establishment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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12. A system for determining the billing rate of mobile telecommunications connections, comprising:
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a processor;
memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the following steps;
a. determining whether a location of a mobile telecommunications unit (MU) is within a predetermined subsidized zone; and
b. reducing a standard billing rate for a telecommunications connection associated with the MU when the location of the MU is within the predetermined subsidized zone during at least a portion of the telecommunications connection, wherein the predetermined subsidized zone is associated with a proximity to a commercial establishment.
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23. A computer readable medium for determining the billing rate of mobile telecommunications connections, comprising stored computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform the following steps:
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a. determining whether a location of a mobile telecommunications unit (MU) is within a predetermined subsidized zone; and
b. reducing a standard billing rate for a telecommunications connection associated with the MU when the location of the MU is within the predetermined subsidized zone during at least a portion of the telecommunications connection, wherein the predetermined subsidized zone is associated with a proximity to a commercial establishment.
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Specification