Pre-paid cellular telephone system

• US 6,434,378 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1998
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cellexis International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cellexis International Incorporated
• Inventors: Fougnies, Douglas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Legree, Tracy
• Application Number:
  US09/104,420
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/408, 455/407, 455/409, 455/410, 455/418, 455/419, 455/564, 379/144, 379/114, 379/130, 379/113, 379/112, 379/127, 379/355, 379/356, 379/114.03, 379/114.01, 379/114.2, 379/114.16, 379/127.01, 379/127.02, 379/127.03, 379/127.06, 379/144.01
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A pre-pay service unit uses pseudo-numbers to identify subscribers and substitutes actual numbers to complete a call after verification of authenticity and verification of a positive balance in a subscriber'"'"'s account. The service unit and the cellular telephone exchange data in the process of authentication. For outgoing calls, a cellular telephone first transmits an “800” number and an ANI. The “800” number is the telephone number of the pre-pay service unit, which then requests number actually dialed. The cellular telephone responds with dialed digits, a security code, and status data. If the information is correct, the dialed digits are then passed to a local exchange carrier to complete the call. For incoming calls, a pseudo-number directs the call to the pre-pay service unit, which converts the pseudo-number to the actual telephone number of a subscriber'"'"'s cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, in which the transmission of the predetermined destination number is transparent to the subscriber, and in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the predetermined destination number corresponds to a pre-authorized wireless service provider.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the predetermined destination number comprises a toll-free number.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the subscriber-specified destination number corresponds to a party with whom communications are desired.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the routing further comprises:

buffering the subscriber-specified destination number; and

transmitting the buffered subscriber-specified number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider.

6. The method of claim 5 in which transmitting the buffered subscriber-specified number comprises:

receiving a request from the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and

sending the buffered subscriber-specified number in response to the received request.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a wireless communication device identifier with the predetermined destination number.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the wireless communication device identifier and the predetermined destination number are transmitted serially.

9. The method of claim 7 in which the predetermined destination number facilitates connection to the pre-authorized wireless service provider and the wireless communication device identifier enables the pre-authorized wireless service provider to determine the wireless communication device'"'"'s identity.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

11. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising

routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit;

in which the routing further comprises buffering the subscriber-specified destination number, and transmitting the buffered subscriber-specified number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and

further comprising transmitting security information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the transmitted security information enables the pre-authorized wireless service provider to verify the wireless communication device'"'"'s authenticity.

13. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising

routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit;

in which the routing further comprises buffering the subscriber-specified destination number, and transmitting the buffered subscriber-specified number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and

further comprising transmitting roaming information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider.

14. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, and further comprising transmitting a wireless communication device identifier with the predetermined destination number, in which the wireless communication device identifier comprises an ANI, and in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit.

15. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, and further comprising transmitting a wireless communication device identifier with the predetermined destination number, in which the wireless communication device identifier comprises information other than an ANI, and in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit.

16. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising routing a call request through a pre-authorized wireless service provider by transmitting a predetermined destination number in place of a subscriber-specified destination number, in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit.

17. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations:

receive a subscriber-specified destination number;

buffer the received subscriber-specified destination number;

transmit a predetermined destination number in place of the buffered subscriber-specified destination number; and

transmit the buffered subscriber-specified destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprising a pre-pay service unit;

in which transmission of the predetermined destination number is transparent to a subscriber operating the wireless communication device.

18. The software of claim 17 in which transmission of the predetermined destination number occurs in response to a trigger event.

19. The software of claim 18 in which the trigger event comprises a depression of a SEND key on a wireless communications device.

20. The software of claim 17 in which the received subscriber-specified destination number corresponds to subscriber input on a keypad of the wireless communications device.

21. The software of claim 17 in which the received subscriber-specified destination number corresponds to a party to be contacted.

22. The software of claim 17 in which the predetermined destination number corresponds to a pre-authorized wireless service provider.

23. The software of claim 17 further comprising instructions to perform the following operations:

receive a request for the subscriber-specified destination number from the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and

transmit the buffered subscriber-specified destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request.

24. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations:

receive a subscriber-specified destination number;

buffer the received subscriber-specified destination number; and

transmit a predetermined destination number in place of the buffered subscriber-specified destination number;

further comprising instructions to perform the following operations;

receive a request for the subscriber-specified destination number from a pre-authorized wireless service provider; and

transmit the buffered subscriber-specified destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprising a pre-pay service unit in response to the received request; and

further comprising instructions to transmit security information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request, the security information comprising data that enables the pre-authorized wireless service provider to verify the authenticity of the wireless communication device.

25. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations:

receive a subscriber-specified destination number;

buffer the received subscriber-specified destination number; and

transmit a predetermined destination number in place of the buffered subscriber-specified destination number;

further comprising instructions to perform the following operations;

receive a request for the subscriber-specified destination number from a pre-authorized wireless service provider comprising a pre-pay service unit; and

transmit the buffered subscriber-specified destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request; and

further comprising instructions to transmit roaming information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request.

26. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations:

receive a subscriber-specified destination number;

buffer the received subscriber-specified destination number; and

transmit a predetermined destination number in place of the buffered subscriber-specified destination number;

further comprising instructions to transfer a wireless communication device identifier with the predetermined destination number, the wireless communication device identifier comprising data that enables a pre-authorized wireless service provider comprising a pre-pay service unit to identify the wireless communication device.

27. The software of claim 26 in which the wireless communication device identifier comprises an ANI.

28. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving from a subscriber a destination number specifying a party to be called;

buffering the destination number received from the subscriber;

transmitting a predetermined pre-authorized wireless service provider'"'"'s number in place of the buffered destination number;

receiving a request for the subscriber-specified destination number from the pre-authorized wireless service provider; and

transmitting the buffered destination number to the pre-authorized wireless service provider in response to the received request;

in which transmission of the predetermined pre-authorized wireless service provider'"'"'s number is transparent to a subscriber operating the wireless communication device,

and in which the pre-authorized wireless service provider comprises a pre-pay service unit.

29. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising:

transparently receiving from a pre-authorized wireless service provider security information corresponding to an incoming call request;

verifying the received security information; and

selectively notifying a subscriber of an incoming call only after the security information is verified.

30. The method of claim 29 in which the selective notification comprises notifying the subscriber if the received security information is verified to be valid.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising, upon verification of the received security information, transmitting verification information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider.

32. The method of claim 29 in which the transparent reception of the security information comprises going off-hook without alerting the subscriber.

33. Software, stored in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a wireless communications device to perform the following operations:

receive transparently from a pre-authorized wireless service provider security information corresponding to an incoming call request;

verify the received security information; and

selectively notify a subscriber of an incoming call only after the security information is verified.

34. The method of claim 33 in which the selective notification comprises notifying the subscriber if the received security information is verified to be valid.

35. The software of claim 33 further comprising instructions to transmit verification information to the pre-authorized wireless service provider upon verification of the received security information indicating acceptance.

36. The software of claim 33 in which the transparent reception of the security information comprises executing instructions to go off-hook without alerting the subscriber.

37. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a wireless communication device directed to a predetermined destination number, the call including information that identifies the wireless communication device;

accessing a pre-paid account corresponding to the wireless communication device; and

transparently obtaining a subscriber-specified destination number from the identified wireless communication device;

in which the transmission of the predetermined destination number is transparent to a subscriber operating the wireless communication device.

38. The method of claim 37 in which the predetermined destination number corresponds to the pre-authorized wireless service provider.

39. The method of claim 37 in which the subscriber-specified destination number corresponds to a party with whom communications are desired.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising confirming that the identified wireless communication device corresponds to a subscriber of the pre-authorized wireless service provider.

41. The method of claim 37 in which transparently obtaining the subscriber-specified number comprises communicating with the wireless communication device in a manner that is unnoticeable to a subscriber.

42. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

determining a status of an account corresponding to the identified wireless communication device; and

based on a result of the determining, selectively passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network.

43. The method of claim 37 further comprising passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network.

44. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a wireless communication device directed to a predetermined destination number, the call including information that identifies the wireless communication device;

accessing a pre-paid account corresponding to the wireless communication device; and

transparently obtaining a subscriber-specified destination number from the identified wireless communication device;

in which the information that identifies the wireless communication device comprises an ANI.

45. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a wireless communication device directed to a predetermined destination number, the call including information that identifies the wireless communication device;

accessing a pre-paid account corresponding to the wireless communication device; and

transparently obtaining a subscriber-specified destination number from the identified wireless communication device; and

further comprising receiving security information from the identified wireless communication device.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising verifying authenticity of the wireless communication device based on the security information received.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising selectively passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network based on a result of the authenticity verification.

48. The method of claim 47 in which the subscriber-specified destination number is not passed to the public network if the authenticity of the wireless communication device is not verified.

49. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a wireless communication device directed to a predetermined destination number, the call including information that identifies the wireless communication device;

accessing a pre-paid account corresponding to the wireless communication device; and

transparently obtaining a subscriber-specified destination number from the identified wireless communication device; and

further comprising;

determining a status of an account corresponding to the identified wireless communication device; and

based on a result of the determining, selectively passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network

in which the subscriber-specified destination number is not passed to the public network if the account contains insufficient funds.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising receiving security information from the identified wireless communication device.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising verifying authenticity of the wireless communication device based on the security information received.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising selectively passing the subscriber-specified destination number to a public network based on a result of the authenticity verification.

53. The method of claim 52 in which the subscriber-specified destination number is not passed to the public network if the authenticity of the wireless communication device is not verified.

54. A method, performed at a pre-authorized wireless service provider, of facilitating pre-authorized wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving in connection with a call request a pseudo-number from a calling party;

based on the received pseudo-number, determining a subscriber destination number of a wireless communication device associated with the pre-authorized wireless service provider;

passing the subscriber destination number to a public network to complete the call request.

55. The method of claim 54 in which the public network comprises a local exchange carrier (LEC) or a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) or both.

56. The method of claim 54 in which the pseudo-number comprises a destination number for the pre-authorized wireless service provider.

57. The method of claim 54 in which the pseudo-number uniquely identifies the subscriber.

58. The method of claim 54 in which the subscriber destination number comprises a Mobile Identification Number (MIN).

59. The method of claim 54 in which determining the subscriber destination number comprises using the received pseudo-number as an index to a look-up table.

60. The method of claim 54 further comprising, prior to passing the subscriber destination number to the public network, confirming a status of an account associated with the subscriber destination number.

61. The method of claim 60 in which confirming the account status comprises determining if the account contains sufficient funds.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising prohibiting completion of the call request if the account contains insufficient funds.

63. The method of claim 54 further comprising transmitting a security code to the wireless communication device via the public network.

64. The method of claim 63 further comprising receiving from the wireless communication device a verification code corresponding to the transmitted security code.

65. The method of claim 64 comprising confirming the verification code and aborting the call request if the verification code does not confirm successfully.

66. The method of claim 54 further comprising monitoring a status of an account associated with the wireless subscriber device during the call.

67. The method of claim 54 in which the pseudo-number is distinct from the subscriber destination number.