Prepaid real-time web based reporting

• US 6,694,000 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slingshot Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Titus, Mark, Ung, Dara
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/832,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/114.15, 379/114.16, 379/114.17, 379/114.18, 379/114.19, 379/114.2, 379/121.04, 379/122, 379/144.01, 379/144.06, 379/144.08, 455/406, 455/408
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• 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 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 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number

Abstract

Near real time Internet access of prepaid call history and replenishment data is provided via an Internet browser separate from the prepaid device to a user (e.g., the subscriber), allowing a subscriber to access call history and/or replenishment information nearly in real time (e.g., within a minute of the expense/credit) without requiring assistance from a customer service representative. A web based prepaid report page retrieves call history and/or replenishment information from the subscriber'"'"'s service provider, and displays the same through a web browser for review by the subscriber. The requested call history and/or replenishment information may be bounded by date, date and time, or even within specific time range(s) within each day in a given range of days. The web based prepaid report page may also link the user to a replenishment application for the subscriber, to assist the subscriber in replenishing their account after having reviewed their call history and prepaid account status in near real time. The call history and account balance information is preferably updated in near real time after the completion of a call, which is then accessed by the web based prepaid report page. Substantially immediately after a prepaid call is ended, the web based prepaid reporting application formulates a Call Detail Record (CDR) and sends it over a TCP/IP link to the web based prepaid reporting application, which stores the CDR in a local database. Then, a user may access this CDR/RR information in near real time, after appropriate log-in with, e.g., a user ID of the subscriber (e.g., MIN number based), and perhaps a password. Once the requested information is entered, the web based prepaid reporting application queries its local database, formats an appropriate response to the user'"'"'s request, and presents the call history and/or replenishment information to the web browser of the user.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining prepaid service related information, comprising:

accessing from an Internet terminal a web based prepaid reporting application;

passing call event information from a prepaid application over a Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection to said web-based prepaid reporting application;

inputting to a web based prepaid report page an identity of a particular subscriber; and

retrieving prepaid service related information through a web browser in near real time from when a user last used a prepaid service.

2. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, wherein:

said Internet terminal is not a device for which prepaid service related information is being retrieved.

3. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, wherein:

said subscriber is identified to said web based prepaid report page with a mobile identification number (MIN).

4. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, wherein:

said prepaid service related information includes call history information relating to said subscriber.

5. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, wherein:

said prepaid service related information includes replenishment history information relating to said subscriber.

6. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, wherein:

said prepaid service related information includes call history information and replenishment history information relating to said subscriber.

7. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, further comprising:

bounding requested prepaid service related information by a date range input to said web based prepaid report page.

8. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 7, further comprising:

further bounding said requested prepaid service related information by a time of day of each day bounding said date range.

9. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, further comprising:

bounding requested prepaid service related information by a time range within a specific day.

10. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, further comprising:

bounding requested prepaid service related information by a range of days, and by a range of time specific to each day in said range of days.

11. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving said prepaid service related information from a server local to said web based prepaid reporting application.

12. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, wherein:

said call event information is a call detail record.

13. The method of obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 1, wherein:

said call event information is a replenishment record.

14. Apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information, comprising:

means for accessing from an Internet terminal a web based prepaid reporting application;

means for passing call event information from a prepaid application over a Transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection to said web-based prepaid reporting application;

means for inputting to a web based prepaid report page an identity of a particular subscriber; and

means for retrieving said prepaid service related information through a web browser in near real time from when a user last used a prepaid service.

15. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, wherein:

said Internet terminal is not a device for which prepaid service related information is being retrieved.

16. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, wherein:

said subscriber is identified to said web based prepaid report page with a mobile identification number (MIN).

17. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, wherein:

said prepaid service related information includes call history information relating to said subscriber.

18. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, wherein:

said prepaid service related information includes replenishment history information relating to said subscriber.

19. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, wherein:

said prepaid service related information includes call history information and replenishment history information relating to said subscriber.

20. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, further comprising:

bounding requested prepaid service related information by a date range input to said web based prepaid report page.

21. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 20, further comprising:

further bounding said requested prepaid service related information by a time of day of each day bounding said date range.

22. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, further comprising:

bounding requested prepaid service related information by a time range within a specific day.

23. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, further comprising:

bounding requested prepaid service related information by a range of days, and by a range of time specific to each day in said range of days.

24. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, wherein:

said means for retrieving retrieves said prepaid service related information from a server local to said web based prepaid reporting application.

25. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, wherein:

said call event information is a call detail record.

26. The apparatus for obtaining prepaid service related information according to claim 14, wherein:

said call event information is a replenishment record.