Automated prepayment method for mobile terminals

• US 6,036,090 A
• Filed: 07/17/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rahman, Tariq, McDonald, Laurence
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US08/896,016
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/409, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382.5, 235/375, 235/382
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• 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 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming

Abstract

An automated prepayment method for accessing wireless telecommunication services by a mobile terminal is disclosed. The method includes programming and storing in the mobile terminal subscriber credit information such as credit or debit card number, authorization PIN code, and the amount of prepayment credit to be bought. A registration request is sent containing a prepayment request indicator to the mobile switching center. The mobile switching center then requests that the mobile terminal transmit the programmed credit information. The credit information is sent to a prepayment clearing house to verify that the subscriber credit is satisfactory. If the response from the clearing house is positive then the mobile switching center grants the mobile terminal access to the network through standard registration procedures. On the other hand, if the subscriber'"'"'s credit is not satisfactory then access to the network is denied and a corresponding message is displayed on the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method of prepaying for wireless telecommunication services comprising the steps of:

programming a mobile terminal with subscriber credit information;

requesting access to said wireless telecommunication services by said mobile terminal;

selectively transmitting said credit information from said mobile terminal via a system provider to a credit authorization entity when an identity of said system provider is a visiting service system provider; and

accessing said wireless telecommunication service by said mobile terminal when a response from said credit authorization entity is positive, and wherein when said response is negative service is denied to said mobile terminal.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said programming step includes entering data from any one of credit card number, debit card number, authorization PIN code, and prepayment amount.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said requesting access step occurs over a digital control channel.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said accessing step proceeds in accordance with registration procedures defined in the Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System (D-AMPS) standard.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said accessing step proceeds in accordance with registration procedures defined in the Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) standard.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said accessing step proceeds in accordance with registration procedures defined in the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standard.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said accessing step proceeds in accordance with registration procedures defined in the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) standard.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said accessing step proceeds in accordance with registration procedures defined in the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) standard.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said prepayment method works collectively in accordance with any one of Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Total Access Communication System (TACS), and Nordic Mobile Telecommunication System (NMT).

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a user interface to said mobile terminal that permits a user to select prepaid access for home service area accesses, visiting service area accesses, or both.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of selectively transmitting further comprises the step of:

transmitting said credit information when requesting access to a service area type selected by said user for prepaid access.

13. A prepayment system according to claim 10 wherein said credit information is obtained front said mobile terminal by wireless means in response to a control signal message.

12. A prepayment system for accessing services from a wireless telecommunication network comprising:

a mobile terminal having preprogrammed subscriber credit information wherein said mobile terminal transmits said subscriber credit information to said wireless telecommunication network when said mobile terminal is located in a visiting service area; and

a prepayment clearing house for verifying said transmitted subscriber credit information requested by said wireless telecommunication network, wherein prepayment access to said telecommunication network is permitted to said mobile terminal following a positive response from said clearing house regarding said subscriber credit information, and wherein access is denied to said mobile terminal following a negative response.

14. A prepayment system according to claim 12 wherein said prepayment clearing house is a credit card verifying entity.

15. A prepayment system according to claim 12 wherein said mobile terminal is a roaming terminal requesting access to a visiting wireless telecommunication network.

16. A prepayment system according to claim 12 wherein said mobile terminal accesses services from its home service provider via said automated prepayment system.

17. A prepayment system according to claim 12 wherein said mobile terminal is operating within its home service area and requests access to a competing wireless telecommunication network covering substantially the same area as the home area.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a user interface, associated with said mobile terminal, for selecting said at least one service area type.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said at least are service area type includes at least one of a home service area and a visiting service area.

20. A mobile terminal for automatically transmitting subscriber credit information in order to obtain access to a wireless telecommunication network, said terminal comprising:

memory for storing said subscriber credit information;

transmission means for transmitting a registration message to said telecommunication network and for selectively transmitting said subscriber credit information when said mobile terminal is located in a visiting service area; and

display means for displaying information on said mobile terminal.

21. A mobile terminal according to claim 20 wherein said credit information is entered into said memory via the member pad on the mobile terminal.

22. A mobile terminal according to claim 20 wherein said credit information is entered into said memory by wireless transmission means.

23. A mobile terminal according to claim 20 wherein said display means is capable of displaying an alpha numeric response message to an access request.

24. A mobile terminal according to claim 20 wherein said mobile terminal is capable of multi-band operation.

25. A mobile terminal according to claim 20 wherein said mobile terminal is capable of multi-standard operation thereby permitting access to a plurality of wireless telecommunication networks operating in accordance with different standards.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 20, further comprising:

user interface means for permitting a user of said mobile terminal to select at least one service area type for which said subscriber credit information may be transmitted.

27. The mobile terminal of claim 26, wherein said at least one service area type includes one of:

a home service area and a visiting service area.

28. A method for prepaid access in a radio communication system comprising the steps of:

programming a mobile terminal with subscriber credit information;

transmitting a registration message from said mobile terminal to said radio communication system;

said registration message selectively including an indicator which informs said system that this is a prepaid access request when said mobile, terminal is in a visiting service area;

transmitting from said radio communication system to said mobile terminal, a request for said programmed subscriber credit information;

transmitting, from said mobile terminal to said radio communication system, said programmed subscriber credit information; and

selectively permitting said mobile terminal to access said radio communication system based on an evaluation of said subscriber credit information.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said subscriber credit information includes a prepayment amount.