SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AIRTIME OVERDRAFT PROTECTION

• US 20060276180A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Coulter C. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/421,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276180A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system for providing airtime overdraft protection is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system monitors or checks airtime usage of a user and determines if the user has reached an airtime threshold value. If the airtime threshold value is reached, a notification is sent to the user. The user then has an option to purchase additional discount airtime minutes in response to the notification.

Claims

1. A system for providing overdraft notification services for a wireless communications subscriber account associated with a mobile device comprising:

an account information unit configured to;

check the usage of the account for a billing period;

compare the usage to a stored threshold value; and

generate a notification to a subscriber associated with the account if the usage meets a criteria based on the threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the account information unit is further configured to receive a special digit string sent from a mobile device associated with the account.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the account information unit comprises a database, the account information unit being configured to query the database to determine if the account is authorized to use special digit string services.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the special digit string comprises an unstructured supplementary service data string.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the special digit string comprises a short message service (SMS) message.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the special digit string begins with a “

*”

symbol and ends with a “

#”

symbol.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage is an amount of allotted airtime minutes used by the account during a billing period, and the criteria comprises the usage being greater than the threshold value.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage is an amount of allotted airtime minutes remaining for use during a billing period, and the criteria comprises the usage being less than the threshold value.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the notification comprises an email sent to an email address associated with the account.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the notification comprises a menu of options for purchasing additional minutes for the account.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a service transfer point (STP) configured to receive the notification from the account information unit;

a mobile switching center (MSC) configured to receive the notification from the STP;

a base station subsystem (BSS) configured to receive the notification from the MSC and send the notification to the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a base station subsystem (BSS) configured to receive the special digit string from the mobile device;

a mobile switching center (MSC) configured to receive the special digit string from the BSS, and analyze the special digit string;

a service transfer point (STP) configured to receive the special digit string from the mobile switching center and route the special digit string to the account information unit, the account information unit comprising a home location register (HLR).

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the special digit string comprises a request for the amount of allotted minutes used during a billing period.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the special digit string comprises “

*MIN#”

.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the special digit string comprises a request for the amount of allotted minutes remaining in a billing period.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the special digit string comprises “

*BAL#”

.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a gateway configured to receive a response to the notification requesting the purchase of additional minutes;

a billing system configured to determine if the account is eligible to purchase additional minutes.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the response comprises a special digit string.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the special digit string begins with a “

*” and

ends with a “

#”

.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the special digit string comprises a number of minutes to be purchased preceded by “

*” and

ending with “

#”

.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the billing system is further configured to instruct the account information unit to add minutes to the account.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the billing system is further configured to send a confirmation message to the subscriber associated with the account.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the account information unit is further configured to send a confirmation message to the subscriber associated with the account.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the response received comprises a choice made from a menu of the notification.

25. A method of providing overdraft notification services for a wireless communications subscriber account associated with a mobile device comprising:

checking the usage of the account for a billing period;

comparing the usage to a stored threshold value; and

generating a notification to a subscriber associated with the account if the usage meets a criteria based on the threshold value.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a special digit string sent from a mobile device associated with the account, the checking and comparing being performed in response to the receipt of the special digit string.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the usage is an amount of allotted airtime minutes used by the account during a billing period, and the criteria comprises the usage being greater than the threshold value.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the usage is an amount of allotted airtime minutes remaining for use during a billing period, and the criteria comprises the usage being less than the threshold value.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

sending the notification from an account information unit to a service transfer point (STP);

forwarding the notification from the STP to a mobile switching center (MSC);

forwarding the notification from the MSC to a base station subsystem (BSS); and

forwarding the notification from the BSS to the mobile device.

30. The method claim 26, further comprising:

receiving the special digit string from the mobile device at a base station subsystem (BSS);

forwarding the special digit string from the BSS, to a mobile switching center (MSC);

analyzing the special digit string at the MSC;

routing the special digit string from the MSC to a service transfer point (STP); and

routing the special digit string to a home location register (HLR).