Cellular telephone system having mobile charging region and area based pricing method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A cellular communications system having a charging rate service, comprising:
- a plurality of cells;
a subscriber database defining at least one charging region having a special charging rate for subscriber cellular calls, each charging region being co-extensive with at least one of the plurality of cells;
means responsive to a cellular telephone call with a subscriber for determining which certain one of the plurality of cells is currently serving the subscriber; and
means for accessing the subscriber database and for charging the special rate for said call when the determined certain cell is within the at least one charging region, and for charging a different charging rate for said call when the determined certain cell is not within the at least one charging region.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A number of charging regions and associated special charging rates are defined for a cellular telephone subscribers. The available charging regions are selectively assembled by subscribers to define charging areas within which that subscriber is entitled to special rates for cellular calls. When a subscriber is engaged in a cellular call and is located with the subscriber'"'"'s charging area, the subscriber is charged the special charging rate granted to the charging region within which the subscriber is located. Otherwise, the subscriber is charged at conventional cellular charging rates. In instances where the subscriber is not given the special rate, or otherwise is to be charged at more than the lowest available rate, the system notifies the participating subscriber that the call is not subject to the special rate and gives the subscriber an opportunity to terminate without being charged.
122 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A cellular communications system having a charging rate service, comprising:
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a plurality of cells; a subscriber database defining at least one charging region having a special charging rate for subscriber cellular calls, each charging region being co-extensive with at least one of the plurality of cells; means responsive to a cellular telephone call with a subscriber for determining which certain one of the plurality of cells is currently serving the subscriber; and means for accessing the subscriber database and for charging the special rate for said call when the determined certain cell is within the at least one charging region, and for charging a different charging rate for said call when the determined certain cell is not within the at least one charging region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A cellular communications system having a charging rate service, comprising:
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a plurality of cells; a subscriber database defining a plurality of charging regions each having a special charging rate for subscriber cellular calls, each charging region being co-extensive with at least one of the plurality of cells; a charging area selected by a cellular subscriber to include at least one of the charging regions; means responsive to a cellular telephone call with a subscriber for determining which certain one of the plurality of cells is currently serving the subscriber; and means for accessing the subscriber database and for charging the special rate of that certain cell'"'"'s charging region for said call when the determined certain cell is within the charging area selected by the subscriber, and for charging a different rate for said call when the determined certain cell is not within the charging area for the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cellular communications charging method, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a charging region, the charging region being co-extensive with at least one of a plurality of cells; identifying in a subscriber database at least one subscriber having a preferred rate in the charging region; determining whether the subscriber involved in a call has a preferred rate as identified in the subscriber database and determining which certain one of the plurality of cells is currently serving the subscriber; determining whether the certain one of the cells serving the subscriber is within the established charging region; and charging the subscriber a special rate for the call if said subscriber is identified in the subscriber database and the certain one of the cells within the established charging region, and a different rate for the call if said subscriber is not identified in the subscriber database or the certain one of the cells is not within the subscriber database within the established charging region. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A cellular communications charging method, comprising the steps of:
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establishing by a cellular service provider of a plurality of charging regions across a cellular service area, each charging region being co-extensive with at least one of a plurality of cells; selecting by a subscriber of at least one of the established charging regions along with the cells therein to be included in a charging area for that subscriber; keeping the charging area for that subscriber in a subscriber database; for each call, determining which certain one of the plurality of cells is currently serving the subscriber telephone call; determining whether that subscriber has selected a charging area and whether the certain one of the plurality of cells serving the subscriber is within the selected charging area; and charging the participating subscriber a special charging region rate for the call if the subscriber has selected a charging area and the certain cell is within its selected charging area, the special rate being the rate for the determined charging region within which the subscriber is located, and charging a different rate for the call if the subscriber has not selected a charging area or has selected a charging area and the certain one of the cells is not within its selected charging area. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A cellular communications system, comprising:
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a plurality of mobile stations, each mobile station assigned to a subscriber having selected a charging area being co-extensive with certain cells within a plurality of cells; and a mobile switching center connected to each base station and including; means for storing a record of the each subscriber'"'"'s selected charging area; means for determining for each call whether the certain cell serving the subscriber is within its selected charging area; and means responsive to the means for determining for charging the certain subscriber a special rate for calls when the certain cell is within the selected charging area for that certain subscriber and a different rate for calls when the certain cell is not within the selected charging area for that certain subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification