Prepaid wireless telephone account regeneration in a wireless access protocol system

• US 6,487,401 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Technology Resources, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Richard Carl, Suryanarayana, Lalitha, Chan, Jim H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/740,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/409, 455/411, 455/420, 455/461, 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/114.16, 379/114.17, 379/114.2, 379/201.01, 379/230, 379/144.01
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• 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 17/204 : on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 : with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/26 : with real-time recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection user is asked if he wants to recharge or not
• 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 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 : Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 : Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 : Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 : Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/815 : Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8162 : Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 : Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A service control point transmits a recharge request message or advice of charge to a mobile client resident in a wireless communications device. The message is first received by a wireless telephony application server that then forwards the message to a wireless access protocol gateway. The wireless access protocol gateway then sends the request to the mobile client. The user of the mobile client responds with an affirmative or negative answer to the request to recharge the prepaid telephone airtime account. The service control point then either recharges the account as instructed or lets the account expire, depending on the response from the user.

Claims

1. A method for recharging a prepaid telephone airtime account in a wireless access protocol system comprising a mobile client, a service control point, a wireless telephony application server, and a wireless access protocol gateway, the method comprising the steps of:

the service control point initiating a recharge request to the mobile client advising of a low prepaid telephone airtime account balance;

the mobile client replying to the service control point with a reply message indicating a response to the recharge request; and

the service control point processing the prepaid telephone airtime account in response to the reply message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reply message indicates a desire to recharge the prepaid telephone airtime account.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of the service control point processing the prepaid telephone airtime account in response to the desire to recharge includes the step of the service control point adding a value to the prepaid telephone airtime account.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the value added to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes a currency value.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the value added to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes an airtime value.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the value added is a predetermined value.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the value added is a value set dynamically by a subscriber operating the mobile client.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the reply message indicates a desire to let the prepaid telephone airtime account expire.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of the service control point processing the prepaid telephone airtime account in response to the desire to let the prepaid telephone airtime account expire comprises the steps of:

the service control point letting the prepaid telephone airtime account expire; and

if the user is in mid-call, the service control point transmitting a warning to the mobile client indicating end of balance.

10. The method of claim 9 and further including the step of if the user'"'"'s prepaid balance becomes completely depleted, the service control point transmitting a message to the mobile switching center to terminate the call.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile client is resident in a wireless access protocol enabled wireless telephone.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile client is resident in a wireless access protocol enabled personal digital assistant having wireless communication capability.

13. The method of claim 1 and further including the step of the service control point transmitting an acknowledgement back to the mobile client in response to the reply message.

14. A method for recharging a prepaid telephone airtime account in a wireless access protocol system comprising a mobile client, a service control point, a wireless telephony application server, and a wireless access protocol gateway, the method comprising the steps of:

the service control point transmitting a recharge request to the wireless telephony application server advising of a low prepaid telephone airtime account balance;

the wireless telephony application server forwarding the recharge request to the wireless access protocol gateway;

the wireless access protocol gateway forwarding the recharge request to the mobile client;

the mobile client transmitting a recharge accepted message to the wireless access protocol gateway;

the wireless access protocol gateway forwarding the recharge accepted message to the wireless telephony application server;

the wireless telephone application server forwarding the recharge accepted message to the service control point; and

the service control point adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account in response to the recharge accepted message.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes the step of adding a currency value.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes the step of adding airtime value.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes the step of adding a predetermined value.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes the step of adding a dynamically changing value that is set by a user of the mobile client.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile client is resident in a wireless access protocol enabled wireless telephone.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile client is resident in a wireless access protocol enabled personal digital assistant having wireless communication capability.

21. The method of claim 14 and further including the step of the service control point transmitting an acknowledgement message to the mobile client in response to the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account through a telephone billing system.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account through an e-wallet payment system.

24. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account includes the step of adding value to the prepaid telephone airtime account through a credit card system.

25. The method of claim 14 and further including the step of the mobile client configuring user changeable settings through the wireless access protocol system.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the user changeable settings include a currency used by the wireless access protocol system.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the user changeable settings include a threshold level at which the prepaid telephone airtime account balance initiates the recharge request.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the user changeable settings include languages used by the wireless access protocol system and the mobile client.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the user changeable settings include preferences used by the mobile client and the wireless access protocol system.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the user changeable settings include notification types used by the wireless access protocol system and the mobile client.

31. A system for recharging a prepaid telephone airtime account used by a wireless communication device operating a mobile client, the system comprising:

a service control point that transmits a recharge request to the mobile client to advise the mobile client of a low prepaid telephone airtime account balance;

a wireless telephony application server that receives the recharge request from the service control point and retransmits the recharge request;

a wireless access protocol gateway that receives the retransmitted recharge request from the wireless telephony application server and forwards the recharge request to the mobile client; and

the mobile client coupled to the wireless access protocol gateway and having means for transmitting a reply to the service control point indicating a response to the recharge request.

32. A method for recharging a prepaid telephone airtime account in a wireless access protocol system comprising a mobile client, a service control point, a wireless telephony application server, a mobile switching center, and a wireless access protocol gateway, the method comprising the steps of:

the mobile client initiating a telephone call to a telephone number;

the service control point analyzing the telephone number to determine an anticipated charge for the telephone call;

the service control point informing the mobile client of the anticipated charge;

the mobile client responding to the service control point with a reply message indicating a response to the anticipated charge; and

the service control point processing the prepaid telephone airtime account in response to the reply message.

33. The method of claim 32 and further comprising the step of the service control point communicating with the mobile client through the wireless access protocol system.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of the service control point communicating with the mobile client through the wireless access protocol system further comprises the steps of:

the service control point transmitting an anticipated charge message to the wireless telephony application server;

the wireless telephony application server transmitting the anticipated charge message to the wireless access protocol gateway; and

the wireless access protocol gateway transmitting the anticipated charge message to the mobile client.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of the mobile client responding to the service control point with a reply message further comprises the steps of:

the mobile client transmitting a response message to the wireless access protocol gateway;

the wireless access protocol gateway transmitting the response message to the wireless telephony application server; and

the wireless telephony application server transmitting the response message to the service control point.

36. The method of claim 35 and further comprising the step of the service control point performing an action in response to the response message.

37. A method for recharging a prepaid telephone airtime account in a wireless access protocol system comprising a mobile client, a service control point, a wireless telephony application server, and a wireless access protocol gateway, the method comprising the steps of:

the service control point initiating a recharge request to the mobile client;

the service control point pushing an advertisement to the mobile client;

the mobile client replying to the service control point with a reply message indicating a response to the recharge request; and

the service control point processing the prepaid telephone airtime account in response to the reply message.