Automatic service provider notification of unauthorized terminal activity

• US 6,256,299 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Hardouin, Larry J., Chavez, Jr., David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/071,050
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406-411, 379/112-115, 379/145, 379/188, 379/191-2, 379/196, 379/197, 370/310, 370/329, 370/340, 370/270
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• 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 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Automatically connecting an unauthorized wireless terminal to a service provider agent so that online registration can be performed to provide permanent service to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal is initially connected to a service provider agent by a telephone call from the wireless terminal via a call center having a plurality of agents when the wireless terminal first attempts to register with the service provider'"'"'s wireless switching network. From the point of view of the user, the user may purchase a wireless terminal off the shelf of a mass merchandiser or in the corporate setting simply check a wireless terminal out of a stock room. When the user initially turns the power of the wireless terminal on, a call is placed to an agent of the service provider so that the registration may take place. All necessary information that must be loaded into the wireless telephone will be downloaded during this registration process. To prevent fraudulent use of the wireless terminal, the user sets up their service profile to prohibit certain types of activity. The user will have a personal identification number (PIN) that may be utilized to perform these activities on a selective basis. The PIN could be the mother'"'"'s maiden name or secured credit. In addition, authorization could be performed where the PIN would actually be voice recognition. Once a user performs an activity that is not allowed in their service profile, they would be transferred to an agent of the service provider. By identifying themselves with the PIN, the user would be allowed to perform the restricted activity on a one-time basis, for a short period of time, or permanently change their service profile so that the activity could be performed all the time.

Claims

1. A method for provision of a type of wireless service for wireless terminals by a wireless switching system controlled by a wireless service provider, comprising the steps of:

detecting a present reguest to use the type of wireless service by one of the wireless terminals that is unauthorized for the one of the wireless terminals;

establishing a call between the one of the wireless terminals and an agent of the wireless service provider;

determining suitability of the one of the wireless terminals to use the type of wireless service by the agent;

transferring information to the wireless switching system by the agent to authorize the type of wireless service for the one of the wireless terminals;

authorizing the type of wireless service to be provided for the one of the wireless terminals on an ongoing basis by the wireless switching system in response to the information from the agent; and

providing the type of wireless service to the one of the wireless terminals for the present reguest and subsequent requests by the wireless switching system in response to authorization of the type of wireless service for the one of wireless terminals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the type of wireless service is initial service.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining comprises the step of receiving billing information from the user of one of the wireless terminals.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of enabling further comprises the step of transferring information to the one of wireless terminals via the wireless switching system to allow the type of wireless service for the one of the wireless terminals by the agent.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the type of wireless service is a service other than ability to make a local basic voice call.

10. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 1.

11. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 2.

12. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 3.

13. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 4.

14. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 5.

6. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining comprises receiving the identity of the user of the one of the wireless terminals.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of enabling comprises the step of allowing the one of the wireless terminals to perform the type of wireless service a predefined number of times.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the type of wireless service is a domestic long distance call.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the type of wireless service is a overseas long distance call.

15. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 6.

16. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 7.

17. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 8.

18. An apparatus for performing the method of claim 9.