Prepay telecommunications system

• US 6,208,851 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• 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): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/399,915
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/121, 379/123, 379/124, 379/126, 379/130, 379/140, 455/406, 455/408, 455/405, 455/407, 455/432, 455/435, 455/436
• US Class Current: 455/405
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• 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). The prepay calls are 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). The customer account balance associated with the prepay call is looked up in a customer database (116), and the maximum allowable call duration in response to the customer account balance is computed. The prepay call is then released to the telecommunications carrier switch (24) for line termination. At the same time, a call duration timer is started. The call is disconnected in response to the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration. The prepay telecommunications system is applicable to both wireless and non-wireless telecommunications systems.

Claims

1. A prepay telecommunications system, comprising:

a customer database storing prepay customer data;

a prepay wireless platform being coupled to and co-located with a telecommunications carrier switch, the prepay wireless platform having a call processor adapted to receive a call routed thereto by the telecommunications carrier switch in response to recognizing a prepay call at the telecommunications switch, look up prepay account balance of the caller, route the call back to the telecommunications carrier switch through the prepay wireless platform for call termination yet retaining control, perform live monitoring of the prepay call, and further adapted to disconnect the prepay call mid-call immediately upon detection of depleted prepay account balance; and

a roaming platform being coupled to a second telecommunications carrier switch, the roaming platform having a call processor adapted to live monitoring of prepay calls received by the telecommunications carrier switch and further in communication with the prepay wireless platform.

2. 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, the at least one roaming platform each having a call processor adapted to live monitoring of prepay calls received by the at least one telecommunications carrier switch and further in communication with the prepay wireless platform.

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

additional prepay wireless 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, the at least one roaming platform each having a call processor adapted to live monitoring of prepay calls received by the at least one telecommunications carrier switch and further in communications with the prepay wireless platforms.

4. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the prepay wireless platforms are coupled to one another by a frame relay network.

5. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the prepay wireless platforms and roaming platforms are coupled to one another by a frame relay network.

6. A prepay telecommunications system, comprising:

a customer database storing prepay customer data;

a prepay wireless platform being coupled to and co-located with a wireless telecommunications carrier switch and the customer database, the prepay wireless platform having a call processor adapted to receive a call routed thereto by the telecommunications carrier switch in response to recognizing a prepay call at the telecommunications switch, determine a prepay account balance of the caller, route the call back to the telecommunications carrier switch through the prepay call manager platform for call termination yet retaining control, perform live monitoring of the prepay call and further adapted to disconnect the prepay call mid-call immediately upon detection of depleted prepay account balance;

a plurality of customer interface facilities coupled to the prepay wireless platform for accepting customer prepayment and immediately updating the customer database in response thereto; and

a roaming platform being coupled to a second telecommunications carrier switch, the roaming platform having a call processor adapted to live monitoring of prepay calls received by the telecommunications carrier switch and further in communications with the prepay wireless platform.

7. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising at least one roaming platform being coupled to at least one telecommunications carrier switch, the at least one roaming platform each having a call processor adapted to live monitoring of prepay calls received by the at least one telecommunications carrier switch and further in communications with the prepay wireless platform.

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

additional prepay wireless 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, the at least one roaming platform each having a call processor adapted to live monitoring of prepay calls received by the at least one telecommunications carrier switch and further in communications with the prepay wireless platforms.

9. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the prepay wireless platforms are coupled to one another by a frame relay network.

10. The prepay telecommunications system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the prepay wireless platforms and roaming platforms are coupled to one another by a frame relay network.