Network support for mobile service plan minute exchange by category
First Claim
1. A method for allowing a mobile subscriber to negotiate via a mobile terminal a trade of minutes by category according to a predetermined exchange rate as set forth by a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of categories of usage associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having associated therewith predetermined amounts of time respectively for the categories during a predetermined time interval;
tracking, by the telecommunication network, respective time used by the mobile terminal in each category of the plurality of categories during the predetermined time interval;
selecting, at the mobile terminal, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories for transfer to at least one other category of the plurality of categories, for a respective category a remaining time of the respective category being a respective amount of time during the time interval less a respective current amount of used time for the respective category; and
transferring, at the telecommunication network and according to the selection, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories to at least one other category of the plurality of categories.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present method is for allowing a mobile subscriber to negotiate via a mobile terminal a trade of minutes by category according to a predetermined exchange rate as set forth by a service provider. In this embodiment the method may have the steps of: providing a plurality of categories of usage associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having associated therewith predetermined amounts of time respectively for the categories during a predetermined time interval; tracking, by the telecommunication network, respective time used by the mobile terminal in each category of the plurality of categories during the predetermined time interval; initiating, by the mobile terminal, a trade transaction with the telecommunication network; sending, from the telecommunication network to the mobile terminal, current amount of used time respectively in each category of the plurality of categories; selecting, at the mobile terminal, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories for transfer to at least one other category of the plurality of categories, for a respective category, a remaining time of the respective category being a respective amount of time during the time interval less a respective current amount of used time for the respective category; sending, from the mobile terminal to the telecommunication network, the selection; and transferring, at the telecommunication network and according to the selection, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories to at least one other category of the plurality of categories. The system implements the method.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for allowing a mobile subscriber to negotiate via a mobile terminal a trade of minutes by category according to a predetermined exchange rate as set forth by a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of categories of usage associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having associated therewith predetermined amounts of time respectively for the categories during a predetermined time interval;
tracking, by the telecommunication network, respective time used by the mobile terminal in each category of the plurality of categories during the predetermined time interval;
selecting, at the mobile terminal, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories for transfer to at least one other category of the plurality of categories, for a respective category a remaining time of the respective category being a respective amount of time during the time interval less a respective current amount of used time for the respective category; and
transferring, at the telecommunication network and according to the selection, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories to at least one other category of the plurality of categories. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for allowing a mobile subscriber to negotiate via a mobile terminal a trade of minutes by category according to a predetermined exchange rate as set forth by a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of categories of usage associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having associated therewith predetermined amounts of time respectively for the categories during a predetermined time interval;
tracking, by the telecommunication network, respective time used by the mobile terminal in each category of the plurality of categories during the predetermined time interval;
initiating, by the mobile terminal, a trade transaction with the telecommunication network;
sending, from the telecommunication network to the mobile terminal, current amount of used time respectively in each category of the plurality of categories;
selecting, at the mobile terminal, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories for transfer to at least one other category of the plurality of categories, for a respective category, a remaining time of the respective category being a respective amount of time during the time interval less a respective current amount of used time for the respective category;
sending, from the mobile terminal to the telecommunication network, the selection; and
transferring, at the telecommunication network and according to the selection, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories to at least one other category of the plurality of categories. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for allowing a mobile subscriber to negotiate via a mobile terminal a trade of minutes by category according to a predetermined exchange rate as set forth by a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of categories of usage associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having associated therewith predetermined amounts of time respectively for the categories during a predetermined time interval;
tracking, by the telecommunication network, respective time used by the mobile terminal in each category of the plurality of categories during the predetermined time interval;
initiating, by the mobile terminal, a trade transaction with the telecommunication network;
sending, from the telecommunication network to the mobile terminal, current time used information respectively for each category of the plurality of categories;
selecting, at the mobile terminal, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories for transfer to at least one other category of the plurality of categories, for a respective category, a remaining time of the respective category being a respective amount of time during the time interval less a respective current amount of used time for the respective category;
sending, from the mobile terminal to the telecommunication network, the selection;
transferring, at the telecommunication network and according to the selection, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories to at least one other category of the plurality of categories, the at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories being a first amount of time that is converted, according to a one of a pre-set exchange rate and a dynamic exchange rate, into a second amount of time in the at least one other category of the plurality of category; and
informing the mobile terminal that the transfer is completed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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27. A system that allows a mobile subscriber to negotiate via a mobile terminal a trade of minutes by category according to a predetermined exchange rate as set forth by a service provider, the system comprising:
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a MSC time trade controller in the telecommunication network and a mobile time trade controller in the mobile terminal;
a plurality of categories of usage associated with the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having associated therewith predetermined amounts of time respectively for the categories during a predetermined time interval;
tracking module in the telecommunication network, that tracks and stores respective time used by the mobile terminal in each category of the plurality of categories during the predetermined time interval, the tracking module operatively connected to the MSC time trade controller;
a trade transaction request formed by the mobile time trade controller, wherein the trade transaction request is sent from the mobile terminal to the telecommunication network;
current time used information having current amount of used time respectively in each category of the plurality of categories, wherein the current time used information is sent from the telecommunication network to the mobile terminal in response to the trade transaction request;
a storage in which is stored the current time used information, the storage operatively connected to at least the MSC time trade controller and the tracking module;
selection information formed by the mobile time trade controller, indicative of at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories for transfer to at least one other category of the plurality of categories, wherein the selection information is sent from the mobile terminal to the telecommunication network;
a remaining time of a respective category being a respective predetermined amount of time during the time interval less a respective current amount of used time for the respective category; and
responsive to received selection information at the telecommunication network, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories being a first amount of time that is converted, according to a one of a pre-set exchange rate and a dynamic exchange rate, into a second amount of time in the at least one other category of the plurality of category, wherein the conversion is in response to selection information received at the telecommunication network.
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Specification