Communication system and method including communication billing options

• US 20080090550A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Location Based Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pocketfinder, Inc.
• Inventors: Hecox, Lawrence, Scalisi, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/784,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090550A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• 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 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method for a communication apparatus to provide advanced features such as dual mode capability, billing options for communication charges (for instance reverse billing), and definable accessible controls. In one embodiment, a subscriber apparatus (for instance a wireless communication apparatus) including pager (such as page phone) or radiotelephone functions. A caller calls the subscriber apparatus. The caller gains two-way communication with the subscriber apparatus. The subscriber apparatus may include roaming capability to control movement of a communication channel of the subscriber apparatus from a first system (for instance a regular cellular system) to a second system (for instance a first telecommunication network). The billing options include reversing communication charges (for instance from a subscriber to a calling party), receiving advertisements to reduce communication charges, or splitting communication charges (for instance between a subscriber and a calling party).

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A mobile communication system, comprising:

a first communication apparatus configured to utilize a radio frequency transceiver to communicate with a first telecommunication network;

a cellular apparatus configured to provide roaming capability from the first telecommunication network to a cellular system and to initiate de-registration and registration of said cellular apparatus between said first telecommunication network and said cellular system at least partially in response to a detected radio frequency signal level; and

at least one module configured to;

receive and process a mobile identification number of at least one of said cellular apparatus or a first communication apparatus such that a two-way communication connection is capable of being established between said first communication apparatus and said cellular apparatus; and

utilize a profile to compute and direct communication charges to one or more parties.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said detected RF power level is capable of registering said cellular apparatus with said first telecommunication network from said cellular system when said detected RF power level is detected above a predefined power level.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said first telecommunication network is adapted to provide up to T1 capacity to a wireless local loop subscriber.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said cellular apparatus is adapted to operate on a dedicated frequency within a subscriber'"'"'s premises or a chosen communication area.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said first telecommunication network and said cellular system are adapted to utilize frequencies that are proximate within the radio frequency spectrum.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein said first telecommunication network and said cellular system are adapted to utilize operational frequencies within approximately 100 MHz of each other.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the profile comprises a database configured to reverse charges of at least a portion of the communication charges to an account associated with the first communication apparatus.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the profile is configured to reduce at least a portion of the communication charges at least partially in response to receipt of one or more airtime discounted service (ADS) messages.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the profile is configured to reverse communication charges.

33. The system of claim 24, where the profile is configured to divide communication charges between a subscriber and an account associated with the first communication apparatus.

34. A telecommunication apparatus, comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate with;

an exchange carrier, thereby facilitating an exchange carrier'"'"'s establishment of a first telecommunication network via said radio frequency transceiver over a chosen communication area; and

a wireless communication device configured to provide roaming capability, the roaming capability comprising de-registration and registration of said wireless communication device between a regular cellular system and said first telecommunication network and the deregistration and registration being responsive to a detected RF power level of the first telecommunication network;

wherein the telecommunication apparatus is further configured to;

receive and process a request and capable to establish a wireless communication connection between the wireless communication device and a user communication apparatus; and

connect to a computer server configured to compute communication charges, to at least one of;

(i) reduce communication charges in response to receipt of airtime credits, and (ii) direct communication charges to an appropriate party.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said detected RF power level is adapted to provide a deference of registration of said wireless communication device with said first telecommunication network from said regular cellular system when said detected RF power level is detected above a predefined power level.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to process an associated identification number of at least one of the wireless communication device, the user communication apparatus, and a subscriber.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the subscriber is one of at least the cellular system and the first telecommunication network.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the associated identification number of at least one of the wireless communication device, the user communication apparatus, and the subscriber comprises a carrier identification number; and

the exchange carrier is configured to provide wideband capability to the subscriber.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the associated identification number is selected from the group that consists of a local phone number, a DID (Directory Inbound Dialing Number), a carrier identification number, and a Mobile Identification Number (MIN); and

the exchange carrier is adapted to communicate over a wideband area network.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is adapted to operate on a dedicated frequency within the first telecommunications network.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the computer server is configured to utilize a billing profile to compute the appropriate communication charges associated with at least one of the user communication apparatus, the wireless communication device, and a subscriber.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the computer server is configured to utilize a customer profile to reduce communication charges in response to receipt of airtime discount service messages.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the computer server is configured to reverse communication charges to a calling party utilizing the user communication apparatus.

44. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a module configured to communicate with a first telecommunication apparatus having a radio frequency transmitter, said radio frequency transmitter configured to communicate with an exchange carrier to facilitate an exchange carrier'"'"'s capability to establish a first telecommunication network over a communication area, the module is further configured to;

communicate an associated mobile identification number and to provide automatic roaming capability between said first telecommunication network and a cellular system in response an RF power level of the local loop being detected above a threshold level; and

communicate with a computer server that accesses a database profile to compute and direct communication charges to an appropriate party;

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the first telecommunication apparatus is configured to receive and process said associated mobile identification number such that a communication connection is capable of being made between said wireless communication device and a user communication device, thereby allowing two-way communication to be established between said wireless communication device and the user communication device.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to process an associated identification number of at least one of the user communication device, the wireless communication device, and a subscriber.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein:

the associated identification number comprises a carrier identification number; and

the local exchange carrier provides wideband capability to the subscriber.

48. The device of claim 46, wherein:

the associated identification number is selected from the group that consists of a local phone number, a DID (Directory Inbound Dialing Number), a carrier identification number, and a Mobile Identification Number (MIN); and

the local exchange carrier is configured to communicate over a wideband area network.

49. The device of claim 45, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is configured to operate on a dedicated frequency within the first telecommunication network.

50. The device of claim 45, wherein the computer server is configured to access an account associated with a calling party to charge at least a portion of charges associated with the two-way communication.

51. The device of claim 45, wherein the associated mobile identification number of the first communication apparatus comprises a Directory Inbound Dialing (DID) number.

52. The device of claim 45, wherein the first telecommunication network and the regular cellular system are adapted to utilize frequencies that are proximate in a chosen frequency spectrum.

53. The device of claim 45, wherein the database profile is configured to credit received airtime discounted service (ADS) messages to reduce or prevent the communication charges.

54. The device of claim 45, wherein the database profile is configured to reverse at least a portion of the communication charges.

55. The device of claim 45, wherein the database profile is associated with the wireless communication apparatus and credits billing in response to received airtime discounted service (ADS) messages to reduce the communication charges of at least one of a calling party and a subscriber.