Methods, systems and program products for supporting prepaid service within a communication network

• US 20040106393A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Chowdhury, Kuntal, Wenzel, Peter, Helm, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 8,498,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/775 Account specifications on parallel communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/785 Reserving amount on the account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8207 Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7277 Account specifications on parallel communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7295 Reserve amount, e.g. according to estimated costs for a typical communication duration or according to the estimated volume to be transferred
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data

Abstract

According to a method of controlling access to a prepaid packet data communication service, a prepaid server transmits a resource response in response to receipt of a resource request for prepaid resources from a prepaid client. The resource response specifies a quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification. The prepaid client then receives a notification from the prepaid client indicating that the threshold of prepaid resources has been reached, and in response to the notification, performs an accounting updating reflecting a portion of the prepaid account balance that has been consumed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a prepaid communication service, said method comprising:

in response to receipt of a resource request for prepaid resources from a prepaid client, a prepaid server transmitting a resource response specifying a quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification;

said prepaid server receiving a notification from the prepaid client indicating that the resource usage threshold of prepaid resources has been reached in a prepaid packet data session; and

in response to said notification, said prepaid server performing an accounting update reflecting a portion of said prepaid account balance that has been consumed.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

in response to receipt of an access request from the prepaid client, said prepaid server determining whether said access request identifies a valid prepaid service subscriber; and

in response to a determination that said access request identifies a valid prepaid subscriber, said prepaid server transmitting an access response authorizing access to prepaid service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said quota is a cumulative quota including previously allocated prepaid service and newly allocated prepaid service, and wherein transmitting said resource response comprises transmitting a resource response specifying the cumulative quota.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said resource request comprises a first resource request, said method further comprising said prepaid server receiving a second resource request including said notification.

5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

said prepaid server determining whether a quota has been allocated that permits said prepaid account balance to be consumed;

in response to said determination, said prepaid server signaling said prepaid service subscriber that a current prepaid packet data session will be terminated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said resource usage threshold indicates an amount of said quota that can be consumed before the prepaid client provides notification to the prepaid server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting said resource response comprises a Home Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (HAAA) server of a wireless access network transmitting said resource response.

8. A method of accessing a prepaid communication service, said method comprising:

a prepaid client transmitting a resource request for prepaid resources to a prepaid server;

the prepaid client receiving a resource response from the prepaid server specifying a first quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification;

the prepaid client counting an amount of prepaid resources consumed in a prepaid packet data session;

in response to determining that the resource usage threshold has been reached, the prepaid client transmitting a notification to the prepaid server indicating that the threshold of prepaid resources has been reached; and

the prepaid client preventing consumption of additional prepaid resources by said prepaid packet data session until any resource response is received specifying a second quota of prepaid resources for said prepaid packet data session.

9. The method of claim 8, and further comprising:

in response to receipt of an access request from a mobile station, the prepaid client transmitting an access-request message to the prepaid server requesting prepaid packet data service.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said first quota is a cumulative quota including prepaid resources previously allocated in said prepaid packet data session and newly allocated prepaid resources, and wherein receiving said resource response comprises receiving a resource response specifying the cumulative quota.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said resource request comprises a first resource request; and

transmitting said notification comprises transmitting a second resource request including said notification.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting said notification comprises transmitting said notification in a message signaling termination of said prepaid packet data session in response to determining that the threshold of prepaid services has been consumed and that the threshold is equal to said first quota.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said resource usage threshold indicates an amount of said quota that can be consumed before the prepaid client provides notification to the prepaid server.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the prepaid client receiving said resource response comprises a Packet Data-Serving Node receiving said resource response from a prepaid server associated with a Home Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (HAAA) server of a wireless access network.

15. A prepaid server for controlling access to a prepaid communication service, said prepaid server comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of a resource request for prepaid resources from a prepaid client, for transmitting a resource response specifying a quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification;

means for receiving a notification from the prepaid client indicating that the resource usage threshold of prepaid resources has been reached in a prepaid packet data session; and

means, responsive to said notification, for performing an accounting update reflecting a portion of said prepaid account balance that has been consumed.

16. The prepaid server of claim 15, and further comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of an access request from the prepaid client, for determining whether said access request identifies a valid prepaid service subscriber; and

means, responsive to a determination that said access request identifies a valid prepaid subscriber, for transmitting an access response authorizing access to prepaid service.

17. The prepaid server of claim 15, wherein said quota is a cumulative quota including previously allocated prepaid service and newly allocated prepaid service, and wherein said means for transmitting said resource response comprises means for transmitting a resource response specifying the cumulative quota.

18. The prepaid server of claim 15, wherein said resource request comprises a first resource request, said prepaid server further comprising means for receiving a second resource request including said notification.

19. The prepaid server of claim 15, and further comprising:

means for determining whether a quota has been allocated that permits said prepaid account balance to be consumed;

means, responsive to said determination, for signaling said prepaid service subscriber that a current prepaid packet data session will be terminated.

20. The prepaid server of claim 15, wherein said resource usage threshold indicates an amount of said quota that can be consumed before the prepaid client provides notification to the prepaid server.

21. The prepaid server of claim 15, wherein said prepaid server is implemented in association with a Home Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (HAAA) server of a wireless access network.

22. A prepaid client for accessing a prepaid communication service, said prepaid client comprising:

means for transmitting a resource request for prepaid resources to a prepaid server;

means for receiving a resource response from the prepaid server specifying a first quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification;

means for counting an amount of prepaid resources consumed in a prepaid packet data session;

means, responsive to determining that the resource usage threshold has been reached, for transmitting a notification to the prepaid server indicating that the resource usage threshold of prepaid resources has been reached; and

means for preventing consumption of additional prepaid resources by said prepaid packet data session until any resource response is received specifying a second quota of prepaid resources for said prepaid packet data session.

23. The prepaid client of claim 22, and further comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of an access request from a mobile station, for transmitting an access-request message to the prepaid server requesting prepaid packet data service.

24. The prepaid client of claim 22, wherein said first quota is a cumulative quota including prepaid resources previously allocated in said prepaid packet data session and newly allocated prepaid resources, and wherein said means for receiving said resource response comprises means for receiving a resource response specifying the cumulative quota.

25. The prepaid client of claim 22, wherein:

said resource request comprises a first resource request; and

said means for transmitting said notification comprises means for transmitting a second resource request including said notification.

26. The prepaid client of claim 22, wherein said means for transmitting said notification comprises means for transmitting said notification in a message signaling termination of said prepaid packet data session in response to determining that the threshold of prepaid services has been consumed and that the threshold is equal to said first quota.

27. The prepaid client of claim 22, wherein said resource usage threshold indicates an amount of said quota that can be consumed before the prepaid client provides notification to the prepaid server.

28. The prepaid client of claim 22, wherein the prepaid client comprises a Packet Data-Serving Node that receives said resource response from a prepaid server associated with a Home Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (HAAA) server of a wireless access network.

29. A program product for controlling access to a prepaid communication service, said program product comprising a data processing system usable medium having a prepaid server encoded therein, said prepaid server including:

means, responsive to receipt of a resource request for prepaid resources from a prepaid client, for transmitting a resource response specifying a quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification;

means for receiving a notification from the prepaid client indicating that the threshold of prepaid resources has been reached in a prepaid packet data session; and

means, responsive to said notification, for performing an accounting update reflecting a portion of said prepaid account balance that has been consumed.

30. The program product of claim 29, said prepaid server further comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of an access request from the prepaid client, for determining whether said access request identifies a valid prepaid service subscriber; and

means, responsive to a determination that said access request identifies a valid prepaid subscriber, for transmitting an access response authorizing access to prepaid service.

31. The program product of claim 29, wherein said quota is a cumulative quota including previously allocated prepaid service and newly allocated prepaid service, and wherein said means for transmitting said resource response comprises means for transmitting a resource response specifying the cumulative quota.

32. The program product of claim 29, wherein said resource request comprises a first resource request, said prepaid server further comprising means for receiving a second resource request including said notification.

33. The program product of claim 29, said prepaid server further comprising:

means for determining whether a quota has been allocated that permits said prepaid account balance to be consumed;

means, responsive to said determination, for signaling said prepaid service subscriber that a current prepaid packet data session will be terminated.

34. The program product of claim 29, wherein said resource usage threshold indicates an amount of said quota that can be consumed before the prepaid client provides notification to the prepaid server.

35. A program product for accessing a prepaid communication service, said program product comprising a data processing system usable medium having a prepaid client encoded therein, said prepaid client comprising:

means for transmitting a resource request for prepaid resources to a prepaid server;

means for receiving a resource response from the prepaid server specifying a first quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client is required to provide notification;

means for counting an amount of prepaid resources consumed in a prepaid packet data session;

means, responsive to determining that the resource usage threshold of prepaid services has been reached, for transmitting a notification to the prepaid server indicating that the threshold of prepaid resources has been reached; and

means for preventing consumption of additional prepaid resources by said prepaid packet data session until any resource response is received specifying a second quota of prepaid resources for said prepaid packet data session.

36. The program product of claim 35, said prepaid client further comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of an access request from a mobile station, for transmitting an access-request message to the prepaid server requesting prepaid packet data service.

37. The program product of claim 35, wherein said first quota is a cumulative quota including prepaid resources previously allocated in said prepaid packet data session and newly allocated prepaid resources, and wherein said means for receiving said resource response comprises means for receiving a resource response specifying the cumulative quota.

38. The program product of claim 35, wherein:

said resource request comprises a first resource request; and

said means for transmitting said notification comprises means for transmitting a second resource request including said notification.

39. The program product of claim 35, wherein said means for transmitting said notification comprises means for transmitting said notification in a message signaling termination of said prepaid packet data session in response to determining that the threshold of prepaid services has been consumed and that the threshold is equal to said first quota.

40. The program product of claim 35, wherein said resource usage threshold indicates an amount of said quota that can be consumed before the prepaid client provides notification to the prepaid server.

41. An Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (HAAA) server for a wireless access network, comprising:

means for authenticating subscribers of the wireless access network;

means for authorizing service utilization;

means for accounting for service utilization; and

a prepaid server controlling access to a prepaid communication service, said prepaid server including;

means, responsive to receipt of a resource request for prepaid resources from a prepaid client, for transmitting a resource response specifying a quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification;

means for receiving a notification from the prepaid client indicating that the resource usage threshold of prepaid resources has been reached in a prepaid packet data session; and

means, responsive to said notification, for performing an accounting update reflecting a portion of said prepaid account balance that has been consumed.

42. A Packet Data-Serving Node (PDSN) of a wireless access network, comprising:

means for routing data packets; and

a prepaid client including;

means for transmitting a resource request for prepaid resources to a prepaid server;

means for receiving a resource response from the prepaid server specifying a first quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification;

means for counting an amount of prepaid resources consumed in a prepaid packet data session;

means, responsive to determining that the resource usage threshold has been reached, for transmitting a notification to the prepaid server indicating that the resource usage threshold of prepaid resources has been reached; and

means for preventing consumption of additional prepaid resources by said prepaid packet data session until any resource response is received specifying a second quota of prepaid resources for said prepaid packet data session.