Alternative wireless telephone roaming using prepaid services

• US 6,792,271 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feldstein, Corey, Sherman, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US09/992,626
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/408, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 379/114.2, 379/114.15, 379/127.06
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• 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 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method and system are provided for registering and operating a wireless telephone in a roaming service area in which the wireless telephone is not registered for roaming services. When a wireless telephone is operated in a such a roaming service area, the roaming service provider whose services the wireless telephone must utilize in order to operate in the roaming service area informs the user of the wireless telephone through a recorded or live message that the wireless telephone may be used in the roaming service area if the user of the wireless telephone purchases and uses a prepaid utilization account offered by the roaming service provider. If the user purchases a prepaid card and loads a balance into a prepaid utilization account, a prepaid services system of the roaming service provider establishes a pseudo-telephone number for use by the wireless telephone in the roaming service area. The user'"'"'s home service provider is notified that all calls directed to the user'"'"'s permanent wireless telephone number should be forwarded to the pseudo-number assigned to the wireless telephone. After this registration process is completed, calls may be placed to and from the wireless telephone in the roaming service area, and billing for those calls will be directed to the prepaid utilization account purchased by the user.

Claims

1. A method of enabling use of a wireless telephone in a roaming service area using prepaid services, comprising the steps of:

receiving a call from the wireless telephone in the roaming service area;

determining the wireless telephone is not registered for wireless services in the roaming service area;

designating the wireless telephone as an invalid subscriber for wireless services in the roaming service area;

receiving account information for prepaid roaming services from the wireless telephone; and

registering the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area.

2. The method of claim 1, after the step of receiving account information for prepaid roaming services from the wireless telephone, including the step of:

assigning the wireless telephone a pseudo-telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving account information for prepaid roaming services from the wireless telephone includes receiving prepaid wireless air time from a prepaid calling card input into the wireless telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving account information for prepaid roaming services from the wireless telephone includes receiving prepaid account balance from a prepaid calling card input into the wireless telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of registering the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area, further comprises the steps of:

registering identification information for the wireless telephone with a home location register; and

registering identification information for the wireless telephone with a prepaid services system.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of notifying a home wireless service provider for the wireless telephone of the registration of the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area.

7. The method of claim 1, after the step of registering the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area, further comprising the steps of:

placing a call from the wireless telephone;

determining whether the call is a prepaid call;

determining whether the call is authorized; and

if the call is an authorized prepaid call, completing the call.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of determining whether the call is authorized includes determining whether the account information for prepaid roaming services contains a sufficient prepaid services balance for completing the call.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

after the wireless telephone is removed from the roaming service area, un-registering the wireless telephone for roaming services within the roaming service area.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the wireless telephone is not registered for wireless services within the roaming service area further comprises the step of querying a home location register within the roaming service area for registration information for the wireless telephone.

11. The method of claim 1, prior to the step of receiving account information for prepaid roaming services from the wireless telephone, further comprising the step of:

providing prepaid roaming services options to the wireless telephone.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

providing information for obtaining prepaid roaming services; and

providing instructions for inputting prepaid roaming services account information into the wireless telephone.

25. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of instructing a home wireless service provider for the wireless telephone that all calls directed to a permanent telephone number of the wireless telephone be forwarded directly to the pseudo-telephone number assigned to the wireless telephone number.

13. A system of enabling use of a wireless telephone in a roaming service area using prepaid services, comprising:

a switch operative

to receive a call from the wireless telephone in the roaming service area;

to query a home location register for registration information on the wireless telephone;

a home location register operative

to determine the wireless telephone is not registered for wireless services in the roaming service area;

to designate the wireless telephone as an invalid subscriber for wireless services in the roaming service area;

to register the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area; and

a prepaid services system operative

to receive account information for prepaid wireless services from the wireless telephone,

to register the wireless telephone for prepaid wireless services within the roaming area.

14. The system of claim 13, whereby the home location register is further operative

to assign the wireless telephone a pseudo-telephone number.

15. The system of claim 13, whereby the home location register is further operative

to notify a home wireless service provider for the wireless telephone of the registration of the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area.

16. The system of claim 13, whereby

the switch is further operative

to receive a call from the wireless telephone after the wireless telephone is registered for wireless services within the roaming area;

to determine whether the call is a prepaid call;

to determine from the prepaid services system whether the call is authorized; and

to complete the call if the call is an authorized prepaid call.

17. The system of claim 16, whereby the home location register is further operative

to un-register the wireless telephone for roaming services within the roaming service area after the wireless telephone is removed from the roaming service area.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising

an interactive voice response system operative

to provide prepaid roaming services options to the wireless telephone.

19. The system of claim 13, the interactive voice response system further operative

to provide information for obtaining prepaid roaming services;

and

to provide instructions for inputting prepaid roaming services account information into the wireless telephone.

26. The system of claim 14, whereby the home location register is further operative

to instruct the home wireless service provider that all calls directed to a permanent telephone number of the wireless telephone be forwarded directly to the pseudo-telephone number assigned to the wireless telephone.

20. A method of enabling use of a wireless telephone in a roaming service area using prepaid services, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a wireless switch a call from the wireless telephone in the roaming service area;

determining at a home location register that the wireless telephone is not registered for wireless services in the roaming service area;

designating the wireless telephone as an invalid subscriber for wireless services in the roaming service area;

receiving prepaid roaming services account information from entry of a prepaid calling card at the wireless telephone;

assigning the wireless telephone a pseudo-telephone number for temporary roaming services operation in the roaming services area; and

registering the wireless telephone at the home location register and at a prepaid services system for wireless services within the roaming service area.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of notifying a home wireless service provider for the wireless telephone of the registration of the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area.

22. The method of claim 20, after the step of registering the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area, further comprising the steps of:

placing a call from the wireless telephone;

determining whether the call is a prepaid call;

determining whether the call is authorized; and

if the call is an authorized prepaid call, completing the call.

23. The method of claim 20, after the step of registering the wireless telephone for wireless services within the roaming service area, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a call at the wireless telephone;

determining whether the wireless telephone is authorized to receive the call; and

if the call is an authorized prepaid call, completing the call.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

after the wireless telephone is removed from the roaming service area, un-registering the wireless telephone for roaming services within the roaming service area.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of instructing a home wireless service provider for the wireless telephone that all calls directed to a permanent telephone number of the wireless telephone be forwarded directly to the pseudo-telephone number assigned to the wireless telephone number.