Selective broadcasting of charge rates
First Claim
1. A communications system servicing a plurality of subscribers comprising:
- at least one base station in a cell for communicating with a plurality of mobile stations;
a mobile station capable of communicating to and receiving calls from the at least one base station, including a display for displaying a current charge rate received from the at least one base station, wherein the current charge rate is based on subscriber price elasticity, wherein said subscriber price elasticity is based on at least subscriber demand curves, said subscriber demand curves being based on at least categories of subscribers.
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Abstract
A cellular phone system, optimizing user demand by charging system subscribers according to a Variable Charge Rate (VCR) that is based on the price elasticity of the subscribers. According to the present invention, the service provider monitors the load in each cell and, for each cell, the service provider continuously determines a charge rate that can be tailored to specific subscriber category according to a number of variables, offering subscribers a VCR that is optimized for the individual cell'"'"'s capacity and overall system capacity. According to an exemplary embodiment, subscribers may use mobile stations supporting the Short Message Service (SMS) to provide the subscribers with the broadcast VCR. The system can determine, in real time, optimal VCRs for individual cells to maximize revenue generated by the cell for any time of day. The VCRs may be selectively broadcast to the VCR-mobile station to inform subscribers of the current rate of charge for calls. VCRs may be tailored to specific categories of subscribers to provide better price differentiation between subscribers based on price elasticity of the subscribers categories.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A communications system servicing a plurality of subscribers comprising:
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at least one base station in a cell for communicating with a plurality of mobile stations; a mobile station capable of communicating to and receiving calls from the at least one base station, including a display for displaying a current charge rate received from the at least one base station, wherein the current charge rate is based on subscriber price elasticity, wherein said subscriber price elasticity is based on at least subscriber demand curves, said subscriber demand curves being based on at least categories of subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for optimizing use of the capacity of a radio communications system including a plurality of cells and servicing a plurality of subscribers, each cell including at least one base station capable of communicating with a plurality of mobile stations, and means for continuously monitoring the call load of each cell, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the current call load of each cell; determining a plurality of charge rates based on price elasticities of the subscribers, wherein said subscriber price elasticities are based on at least subscriber demand curves, said subscriber demand curves being based on at least categories of subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for optimizing use of the capacity of a radio communications system having a plurality of cells serving a plurality of subscribers, the system comprising:
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means for determining a charge rate based on a price elasticity of subscribers, wherein said subscriber price elasticity is based on at least subscriber demand curves, said subscriber demand curves being based on at least categories of subscribers; and means for transmitting the charge rate to the plurality of subscribers. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification