Prepay telecommunications system with unregistered roaming call processing

• US 6,029,062 A
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Freedom Wireless Incorporated (Freedom Wireless)
• Original Assignee: National Telemanagement Corp. (VeriSign, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/897,507
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/432, 379/114, 379/115, 379/121, 379/127, 379/144
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/853 Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8162 Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

The prepay telecommunications system (60) includes a prepay call management platform (50) which is directly coupled to a telecommunications carrier switch (24). A customer database (116) is coupled to the prepay call management platform (50) for storing prepay customer data, and a plurality of customer interface facilities (62, 64, 66, 68, 80) are provided for accepting customer prepayment and immediately updating the customer database (116). An unregistered roaming call is recognized by the mobile identification number and is routed to the prepay call management platform (50) coupled to and co-located with the telecommunications carrier switch (24) for processing. The caller is prompted for a payment option which may include payment by credit card or a collect call. The caller is then prompted for a credit card number if the credit card option is selected. The credit card number may be validated and verified by a credit card verification processor (128) coupled to prepay call management platform (50). The prepay call is then released to the telecommunications carrier switch (24) for line termination.

Claims

1. A prepay telecommunications system with unregistered roaming call processing of a prepay customer with a prepay account, comprising:

a home prepay call management platform being coupled to and co-located with a telecommunications carrier switch;

a first customer database coupled to the home prepay call management platform for storing prepay customer data;

a second customer database storing prepay customer roaming data;

a roaming platform being coupled to a second telecommunications carrier switch and the second customer database further in communication with the home prepay call management platform, the roaming platform operable to receive a prepay customer call routed thereto by the second telecommunications carrier, look up the prepay customer roaming data in the second customer database, determine the prepay customer'"'"'s home prepay call management platform, obtain prepay account data from the home prepay call management platform, route the call back to the second telecommunications carrier for call termination through the roaming platform, perform live monitoring of the call, and disconnect the call mid-call immediately upon detection of depleted prepay account balance; and

a credit card verification processor coupled to the prepay call management platform operable to allow prepay account balance replenishing.

2. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of customer interface facilities coupled to the prepay call management platform for accepting and automatically updating the customer database with prepay customer data.

3. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plurality of customer interface facilities comprises:

a clearinghouse in communication with the prepay call management platform; and

a plurality of replenishment units coupled to the clearinghouse for activating a customer prepay account and receiving replenishing funds to a customer prepay account.

4. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 2, where the plurality of customer interface facilities each comprises a data card reader for automatically reading deposit cards issued to each customer.

5. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one roaming platform being coupled to at least one telecommunications carrier switch and further in communication with the prepay call management platform.

6. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

additional prepay call management platforms each being coupled to and co-located with a telecommunications carrier switch and being in communications with one another; and

at least one roaming platform being coupled to and co-located with at least one telecommunications carrier switch and further in communications with the prepay call management platforms.

7. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prepay call management platform comprises:

a switch matrix coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch for receiving calls therefrom; and

a call processor coupled to the switch matrix for monitoring prepay calls and playing pre-recorded voice announcements.

8. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prepay call management platform comprises a call processor coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch for monitoring prepay calls and playing pre-recorded voice announcements.

9. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the telecommunications carrier switch is a wireless switch.

10. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the prepay call management platform includes a call duration timer for determining when a maximum allowable call duration for a prepay call has lapsed.

11. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a first router coupled to the prepay call management platform;

a second router coupled to the first router via a communications network; and

the credit card verification processor being coupled to the second router.

12. A method for live call management of a prepay call with roaming call processing, comprising the steps of:

recognizing a roaming call at a telecommunications carrier switch;

routing the roaming call to a prepay call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch;

identifying a home prepay call management platform associated with the roaming call;

obtaining prepay account data associated with the roaming call from the home prepay call management platform;

routing the roaming call to the telecommunications carrier switch for line termination;

monitoring the prepay call; and

disconnecting the call immediately in response to depletion of prepay account balance.

13. The method, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

recognizing an unregistered roaming call at the telecommunications carrier switch;

announcing payment options including a credit card call and collect call options in response of recognizing an unregistered roaming call at the telecommunications carrier switch;

receiving a call option selection; and

prompting for a credit card number in response to a selection of a credit card call.

14. The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the verifying step comprises the steps of:

conveying the credit card number to the credit card verification processor; and

validating the credit card number.

15. The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the verifying step further comprises the step of checking for fraudulent use of the credit card number.

16. The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step of announcing payment options and prompting for a selection comprises the steps of:

announcing a credit card call and collect call options;

receiving a call option selection; and

prompting for a caller identity in response to a selection of a collect call option.

17. The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step of recognizing an unregistered roaming call comprises the step of not recognizing a mobile identification number associated with the call.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step of recognizing an unregistered roaming call comprises the step of determining a customer group office code of a mobile identification number associated with the call not being within a predetermined range.

19. A method for live call management of a prepay call with roaming call processing, comprising the steps of:

recognizing a roaming call at a telecommunications carrier switch;

routing the roaming call to a roaming call management platform coupled to the telecommunications carrier switch;

identifying a home prepay call management platform associated with the roaming call;

obtaining prepay account data associated with the roaming call from the home prepay call management platform;

determining the maximum allowable call duration as indicated by the prepay account data;

routing the roaming call to the telecommunications carrier switch through the roaming call management platform for line termination;

starting a call duration timer;

monitoring the prepay call for the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration;

disconnecting the call immediately in response to the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration; and

updating the prepay account data at the home prepay call management platform to reflect the decreased balance.