System and method for automated pre-paid wireless replenishment with notification

• US 6,526,273 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feidler, Mark, Meadows, Vernon, Link, Charles M. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/468,886
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/466, 379/114-1-1, 379/133-134, 379/144.01, 379/114-5-1
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• 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 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A system and method for providing pre-paid wireless telephone customers notification that a wireless telephone account has been replenished. The present invention delivers a confirmation notice directly to a pre-paid wireless telephone customer through the customer'"'"'s wireless telephone. The notification system receives account replenishment information from a replenishment system and updates its database to indicate a notice must be sent. Because the wireless telephone may or may not be available when the notification system is ready to send the confirmation notice, the system intercepts registration messages sent by the wireless telephone, thereby allowing the notification system to detect when the wireless telephone is available.

Claims

1. A system for providing a confirmation notice to a pre-paid wireless telephone comprising:

(a) a means for detecting when a wireless telephone has been replenished;

(b) a means for detecting when the wireless telephone is available to receive the confirmation notice;

(c) a database comprising records of wireless telephones in need of a confirmation notice; and

(d) a means for delivering the confirmation notice to the wireless telephone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting when a wireless telephone has been replenished comprises a means for intercepting a registration message transmitted by the wireless telephone.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for intercepting a registration message comprises monitoring a plurality of message traffic at a point directly between a mobile telephone switching office and a home registration locator.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for intercepting a registration message comprises monitoring a plurality of message traffic at a point between a cell site and a mobile telephone switching office.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for delivering the confirmation notice comprises a reverse interactive voice recorder, wherein said reverse interactive voice recorder initiates a telephone call to the wireless telephone and plays a confirmation announcement.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the confirmation announcement comprises a digitally synthesized voice message indicating a prior pre-paid account balance and a current pre-paid account balance.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for delivering the confirmation notice comprises a short message service system, wherein said short message service system sends a text message to the wireless telephone.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the text message comprises a prior pre-paid account balance and a current pre-paid account balance.

9. A method for providing a confirmation notice to a pre-paid wireless telephone comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting when a wireless telephone has been replenished;

(b) detecting when the wireless telephone is available to receive the confirmation message;

(c) establishing a database comprising records of wireless telephones in need of a confirmation notice; and

(d) delivering the confirmation notice to the wireless telephone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein step (b) comprises the step of intercepting a registration message transmitted by the wireless telephone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of intercepting a registration message comprises monitoring a plurality of message traffic at a point directly between a mobile telephone switching office and a home registration locator.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of intercepting a registration message comprises monitoring a plurality of message traffic at a point between a cell site and a mobile telephone switching office.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of initiating a telephone call from a reverse interactive voice recorder to the wireless telephone and playing a confirmation announcement.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the confirmation announcement comprises a digitally synthesized voice message indicating a prior pre-paid account balance and a current pre-paid account balance.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) comprises the step of sending a text message from a short message service system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the text message comprises a prior pre-paid account balance and a current pre-paid account balance.