Method and apparatus for providing billing services for a mobile group of communication system users
First Claim
1. A method for establishing a billing record for individual members of a group of communication system users, said individual members using a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) to communicate within a communication system, said method comprising said steps of:
- creating at least one combined request message which comprises equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information for each of said users;
sending said at least one combined request message to said communication system so that said communication system can establish said billing record for said individual members for each of said individual members;
positioning said MCU on a mobile vehicle; and
positioning said individual members at said mobile vehicle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus used by a communication system (100) to register communication system users which use service provider equipment. Multiple-user and special purpose single-user communication units (110) are provided and/or operated by service providers. MCUs (110) can be located on mobile vehicles or in fixed locations. The system along with MCUs (110) collect registration information and usage information for individual users (440) and individual MCUs (110). Service providers receive billing information concerning the usage of their MCUs (110) by communication system users. After communication system (100) registers each user whose registration information is contained within the at least one combined request message, communication system (100) provides communication services to each user and billing information services to the service provider for the communications service and the service provider furnishing the communications equipment.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for establishing a billing record for individual members of a group of communication system users, said individual members using a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) to communicate within a communication system, said method comprising said steps of:
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creating at least one combined request message which comprises equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information for each of said users; sending said at least one combined request message to said communication system so that said communication system can establish said billing record for said individual members for each of said individual members; positioning said MCU on a mobile vehicle; and positioning said individual members at said mobile vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a terrestrial station for providing at least one service provider with billing information concerning a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) provided by said at least one service provider, wherein said MCU is used by communication system users to communicate with a communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, from said MCU, at least one combined request message which comprises equipment identification information for said MCU, location information for said MCU, and individual registration information for said communication system users, said communication system users requesting registration with said communication system; establishing a billing record for each of said communication system users; and providing said billing record to said at least one service provider. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multiple-user communication unit (MCU), said MCU being located with at least one communication system user, said MCU being used by said at least one communication system user to communicate with a communication system, said MCU comprising:
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an interface for establishing at least one communication link with said communication system; a processor coupled to said interface, said processor for determining equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information, creating at least one combined request message which comprises said identification information, said location information, and said individual registration information, and sending said at least one combined request message to said interface; and a local network interface coupled to said processor, said local network interface for interfacing between said processor and at least one local network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A terrestrial station in a communication system comprising:
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an earth terminal for receiving at least one combined request message from a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) and for transmitting at least one response message to said MCU; and an earth terminal controller coupled to said earth terminal, said earth terminal controller for processing said at least one combined request message, wherein said at least one combined request message comprises equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information individual registration information from multiple communication system users who are using said MCU, said earth terminal controller further for identifying said MCU from said equipment identification information, for determining at least one service provider, for determining which of said multiple communication system users were successfully registered, and for establishing a billing record for each of said multiple communication system users which were successfully registered with said communication system. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification