Apparatus and method for prepaid charging of wireless packet data services
First Claim
1. A wireless telecommunications system which provides prepaid charging for a packetized data service comprising:
- a first prepaid packet node (PPN);
a first wireless packet serving node (WPSN) logically associated with said first PPN;
means responsive to a subscriber call initiation, for requesting packetized data service via said first PPN through said first WSPN;
means for maintaining a current balance of a prepaid subscriber account;
means for receiving said current balance at said first PPN.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for billing a packet switched call utilizing a prepaid account in which a prepaid packet note (PPN) monitors a subscriber'"'"'s usage during the call. The PPN is logically associated with a wireless packet serving node (WPSN) that executes call processing that is associated with the call. Moreover, the present invention provides apparatus and method for enabling the subscriber to replenish the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account.
The disclosure describes exemplary embodiments for implementing the present invention with code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), and universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) wireless technologies. Additionally, the disclosure provides an exemplary embodiment in which the subscriber can replenish the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account through a signal processor such as a website or a telephone processing unit.
91 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A wireless telecommunications system which provides prepaid charging for a packetized data service comprising:
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a first prepaid packet node (PPN);
a first wireless packet serving node (WPSN) logically associated with said first PPN;
means responsive to a subscriber call initiation, for requesting packetized data service via said first PPN through said first WSPN;
means for maintaining a current balance of a prepaid subscriber account;
means for receiving said current balance at said first PPN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A wireless telecommunications system enabling a subscriber of a wireless device to replenish an amount of a prepaid account, said prepaid account associated with a packetized service, said wireless telecommunications system communicating to said wireless device through a radio network, said wireless telecommunications system comprising:
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a signal processor;
an accounting processor connected to said signal processor through a communications network;
a communications device connected to said signal processor through said communications network;
means for requesting a replenishment of said amount to said signal processor by said subscriber through said communications device; and
means for conveying said replenishment of said amount to said accounting processor by said signal processor in response to said means for requesting said replenishment of said amount by said subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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24. A method for providing prepaid charging for a call by a wireless telecommunications system, said call associated with a packetized data service, said packetized data service associated with a wireless device of a subscriber, said wireless communications system communicating to said wireless device through a radio network, said wireless telecommunications system comprising the steps of:
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requesting a first prepaid packet node (PPN) through said a first wireless packet serving node (WPSN) for said packetized data service by said wireless device responsive to said subscriber'"'"'s initiation of said call;
querying an accounting processor by said first PPN for a balance of a prepaid account of said subscriber responsive to said step of requesting said packetized data service;
calculating said balance by said accounting processor responsive to said step of querying said accounting processor; and
returning said balance to said first PPN by said accounting processor responsive to said step of calculating by said accounting processor.
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33. A method enabling a subscriber of a wireless device to replenish an amount of a prepaid account associated with a wireless telecommunications system, said prepaid account associated with a packetized service, said wireless telecommunications system communicating to said wireless device through a radio network, said wireless telecommunications system comprising:
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requesting a replenishment of said amount to a signal processor by said subscriber; and
conveying said replenishment of said amount to an accounting processor by said signal processor responsive to said step of requesting said replenishment of said amount by said subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 38, 39)
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34. An accounting processor providing prepaid charging for a call in conjunction with a wireless telecommunications system, said call associated with a packetized data service for a subscriber, said wireless telecommunications system comprising a first prepaid packet node (PPN) and a second PPN, said accounting processor comprising:
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means for calculating a balance for said call from a prepaid account of said subscriber in response to said first PPN querying said accounting processor for said balance; and
means for returning said balance to said first PPN in response to said means for calculating said balance by said accounting processor.
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37. A method for supporting prepaid charging for a call by an accounting processor in conjunction with a wireless telecommunications system, said call associated with a packetized data service for a subscriber, said wireless telecommunications system comprising a first prepaid packet node (PPN) and a second PPN, said method comprising the steps:
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calculating a balance for said call from a prepaid account of said subscriber responsive to said first PPN querying said accounting processor for said balance; and
returning said balance to said first PPN responsive to said step of calculating said balance by said accounting processor.
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Specification