Method for handling parallel transactions on telephone pre-paid accounts

• US 5,995,822 A
• Filed: 06/02/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Smith, Ola, Sodren, Carl, Vincent, Karl Tage Goran
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US08/869,280
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/416, 379/111, 379/114
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/8228 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• 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 17/10 Account details or usage
• 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 2215/7277 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 2215/7833 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method is disclosed such that when a call is being set up from or to a mobile (or fixed) pre-paid subscriber, a portion of the value in the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account is withdrawn to cover the cost of the call. Preferably, the amount withdrawn is large enough to cover the cost for a call of typical duration (e.g., 4 minutes). At call set up, for example, in an Intelligent Network, this amount is withdrawn from the account and allocated to the call being set up. If this amount is not completely used up, the remainder is returned to the pre-paid account. If, however, the allocated amount is depleted before the call is completed, a second allocation or withdrawal from the account is requested for that call. If the value left in the account is large enough to cover the second withdrawal request, a second amount is withdrawn and allocated to cover the ongoing call. If needed, additional withdrawals can be made to cover the ongoing call until it is completed. Once the call is completed, any remainder of the allocated amount is returned to the pre-paid account. Consequently, a pre-paid subscriber can have a plurality of parallel ongoing calls, and because the amount in the pre-paid account is being monitored and accounted for before or while the calls occur, there is no risk that these calls will not be covered by the amount in the pre-paid account.

Claims

1. A method for use in handling at least two transactions in parallel using a telephone subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account, said method comprising the steps of:

responsive to receipt of a first transaction request associated with the subscriber'"'"'s prepaid account, withdrawing a first portion of a value in the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account;

processing a first transaction in response to said first transaction request;

responsive to receipt of a second transaction request associated with the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account, withdrawing from the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account a second portion of said value already depleted by all or some of said first portion; and

processing, in parallel with said first transaction, a second transaction in response to said second transaction request if said value depleted by all or some of said first portion and depleted by said second portion exceeds a minimum value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said telephone subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account comprises a mobile radiotelephone subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first transaction is associated with an outgoing telephone call.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second transaction is associated with an outgoing telephone call.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second transaction is associated with an incoming telephone call.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first transaction is associated with an incoming telephone call.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said value represents a cost for said first transaction having a predetermined duration.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said pre-paid account is stored in a database in an Intelligent Network Service Control Point.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a remainder value is returned to said pre-paid account when at least one transaction of said first transaction and said second transaction is completed.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first transaction or said second transaction is associated with a transaction used for payment of calls, goods or services.

10. A method for use in handling parallel transactions on a mobile radiotelephone subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account, comprising the steps of:

initiating a call associated with said pre-paid account;

calculating a cost for a call of a first predetermined duration;

determining if said cost for a call of a first predetermined duration is less than or equal to an amount in said pre-paid account;

if said cost for a call of a first predetermined duration is less than or equal to said amount in said pre-paid account, deducting said cost for a call of a first predetermined duration from said amount in said pre-paid account, allocating said cost for a call of a first predetermined duration to said call associated with said pre-paid account, and connecting said call associated with said pre-paid account for said first predetermined duration;

if said cost for a call of a first predetermined duration is greater than said amount in said pre-paid account, determining if said amount is greater than or equal to a cost for a call of a second predetermined duration;

if said amount is greater than or equal to said cost for a call of a second predetermined duration, but less than said cost for a call of a first predetermined duration, allocating said amount to said call associated with said pre-paid account, and connecting said call associated with said pre-paid account for a duration associated with said amount;

if said amount is less than said cost for a call of a second predetermined duration, terminating said call associated with said pre-paid account;

in parallel with said call associated with said pre-paid account, initiating a second call associated with said pre-paid account; and

proceeding to said step of calculating said cost for a call of a first predetermined duration.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of returning to said step of calculating a cost for a call of a first predetermined duration.

12. A method for eliminating a service provider'"'"'s risk that costs for a first transaction and a second transaction occurring in parallel are not covered by a telephone subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid calling card account, said method comprising the steps of:

calling an access number;

entering a calling card account number;

requesting set up of a first transaction;

deducting a first portion of a value from said pre-paid calling card account;

connecting said first transaction;

requesting set up of a second transaction;

deducting from said pre-paid calling card account a second portion of said value already depleted by all or some of said first portion; and

connecting said second call if said value depleted by all or some of said first portion and depleted by said second portion exceeds a minimum value.

13. A system for use in handling at least two transactions in parallel using a telephone subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account, comprising:

a database for storing the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account;

means, responsive to receipt of a first transaction request associated with the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account, for deducting a first portion of a value in the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account;

means for processing a first transaction in response to said first transaction request, said first portion allocated to said processing of said first transaction;

means, responsive to receipt of a second transaction request associated with the subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account, for deducting from said subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account a second portion of said value already depleted by all or some of said first portion; and

means for processing, in parallel with said first transaction, a second transaction in response to said second transaction request if said value depleted by all or some of said first portion and depleted by said second portion exceeds a minimum value.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said telephone subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account comprises a mobile radiotelephone subscriber'"'"'s pre-paid account.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said first transaction is associated with an outgoing telephone call.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said second transaction is associated with an outgoing telephone call.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein said second transaction is associated with an incoming telephone call.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein said first portion of said value represents a cost for said first transaction having a predetermined duration.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein each of said first portion and said second portion of said value represents a cost for a call of predetermined duration.

20. The system according to claim 13, wherein said database comprises an Intelligent Network Service Data Function.

21. The system according to claim 13, wherein a remainder value is returned to said pre-paid account when at least one transaction of said first transaction and said second transaction is completed.

23. The system according to claim 13, wherein said first call or said second call is associated with a transaction used for payment of calls, goods or services.