System and method for providing prepaid communications

• US 6,741,687 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Coppage, Carl Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US10/090,216
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.19, 379/114.2, 379/114.01, 379/114.17, 379/114.15, 379/114.16, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/409
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• 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 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit

Abstract

A system and method for prepaid supported communications in a telecommunications network are described. One exemplary method includes establishing a data communication session between a first client device and a network server arranged to provide prepaid services to the first client device, detecting a prepaid call request to connect a call between the first client device to a second client device, and sending a prepaid status request message from the first client device to the network server via the control communication session. The method further includes receiving a prepaid status response at the first client device from the network server, determining if the first client device is authorized to make the prepaid call, and, if so, establishing a voice communication session from the first client device to the second cilent device.

Claims

1. A method for providing prepaid services in a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

establishing a control communication session between a control network entity and a first client device, wherein the control network entity is arranged to provide prepaid services to the first client device;

receiving at the control network entity via the control communication session a prepaid status request message that the first client device upon detecting a call being placed between the first client device and a second client device;

determining if the first client device is authorized to establish the prepaid call;

sending a prepaid status response from the control network entity to the first client device via the control communication session, the prepaid status response comprising authorization data, wherein if the authorization data comprises an authorization approval for the first client device, the first client device responsively establishes a voice communication session to the second client device;

decrementing a prepaid calling balance associated with the first client device as the call progresses;

receiving at the control network entity via the control communication session a call disconnect message sent from the first client device in response to termination of the voice communication session between the first client device and the second client device;

updating the prepaid balance associated with the first client device;

receiving at the control network entity via the control communication session a keep alive signal from the first client device, determining whether a next keep alive signal is received within a predetermined time period, and terminating the decrementing the prepaid calling balance associated with the first client device if the next keep alive signal is not received within the predetermined time period.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first client device comprises a first wireless client device, and the control network entity comprises a network server, and establishing a control communication session between a control network entity and a first client device comprises establishing a data communication session via a data network between the first wireless client device and the network server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client device comprises a first wireless device, wherein the second client device comprises a second wireless device, and wherein the control network entity comprises a network server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client device comprises a first wireless device, wherein the second client device comprises a wireline device, and wherein the control network entity comprises a network server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prepaid call comprises a call being initiated from the first client device to the second client device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the first client device is authorized to establish the prepaid call comprises:

determining if the first client device is authorized to connect the call;

determining if a prepaid calling balance associated with the first client device is sufficient to make the call; and

if the prepaid calling balance is not sufficient, notifying a subscriber of the first client device that the prepaid calling balance associated with the first client device is not sufficient to make the call.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the prepaid calling balance associated with the first client device reaches a predetermined threshold level as the call progresses;

sending a notification message via the control communication session to the first client device, the notification message comprising a notification that the prepaid calling balance reached the predetermined threshold level;

determining if a value is added to the prepaid calling balance; and

using the control communication session to send a call disconnect request from the control network entity to the first client device.

8. A system comprising:

a first client device arranged to establish a control communication session to a control network entity and further arranged to establish a voice communication session to a second client device upon detecting a call request to connect a prepaid call between the first client device and the second client device, wherein the first client device is arranged to use the control communication session to control the voice communication session, and wherein the control network entity is arranged to provide prepaid services to the first client device;

wherein the first client device is arranged to send a prepaid status request message to the control network entity via the control communication session upon detecting a call being placed between the first client device and a second client device;

wherein the control network entity is arranged to receive the prepaid status request, to determine if the first client device is authorized to establish the prepaid call, and to send a prepaid status response to the first client device via the control communication session, wherein the prepaid status response comprises authorization data and wherein, if the authorization data comprises an authorization approval for the first client device, the first client device responsively establishes a voice communication session to the second client;

wherein the control network entity is arranged to decrement a prepaid calling balance associated with the first client device as the call progresses;

wherein the control network entity is arranged to receive via the control communication session a call disconnect message that the first client device sends in response to termination of the voice communication session between the first client device and the second client device;

wherein the control network entity is arranged to update the prepaid balance associated with the first client device; and

wherein the control network entity is arranged to receive via the control communication session a keep alive signal from the first client device, to determine whether a next keep alive signal is received within a predetermined time period, and to stop decrementing the prepaid calling balance associated with the first client device if the next keep alive signal is not received within the predetermined time period.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control network entity is arranged to decrement a prepaid calling balance associated with the first client device as the call progresses, and wherein the control network entity is arranged to stop decrementing the prepaid calling balance upon receiving the call disconnection message from the first client device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the control network entity is further arranged to monitor the prepaid calling balance during the progress of the call, wherein the control network entity is further arranged to determine when the prepaid calling balance reaches a predetermined threshold level, and wherein the control network entity is arranged to use the control communications session to notify a subscriber of the first client device that the prepaid calling balance reached the threshold level.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control network entity is further arranged to determine if a value is added to the prepaid calling balance, and, if not, to use the control communication session to send a call disconnect request to the first client device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first client device comprises a first wireless device, wherein the second client device comprises a second wireless device, and wherein the control network entity comprises a network server.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first client device comprises a wireless device, wherein the second client device comprises a wireline device, and wherein the control network entity comprises a network server.