Postpay spending limit using a cellular network usage governor

• US 6,947,723 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Crouch, Robert Samuel, Meehan, Kevin Patrick, Gurnani, Roger, Shunk, Christopher James
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/322,533
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.15, 379/114.16, 379/114.17, 379/114.19, 379/121.02, 379/121.04, 379/144.01, 379/144.05, 379/114.09
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

The usage limited postpay service, for mobile wireless communication customers, utilizes a governor platform that estimates all appropriate usage charges and applies those charges in substantially real-time against a pre-set spending cap or limit for each customer. When the customer reaches the limit based on estimated charges, further usage is prohibited, even if the customer reaches the limit during an ongoing call or communication session. The actual bill for service, however, is generated in the normal manner after calls made or received during each billing cycle of the postpay service. The customer may deposit money or make payments against billed amounts, to reset the limit in the database associated with the governor platform. Use of the postpay billing approach allows the carrier to offer the cap or limit on essentially any of the carrier'"'"'s normal postpay service plans, for example, including any or all of the carriers one-rate service plans.

Claims

1. A method of limiting accumulation of usage billing charges associated with a one-rate postpay service through a wireless communication network in real time, comprising:

establishing a spending limit for a subscriber to a one-rate postpay service plan for providing service at one-rate within a geographic area, for a communication service offered through the wireless communication network;

detecting a call for communication through the wireless communication network for a wireless remote terminal station of the subscriber;

estimating a charge for completion of the call in accord with the one-rate service plan;

comparing the estimated charge to the established spending limit for the subscriber;

if the established spending limit is not as large as the estimated charge, preventing completion of the call through the wireless communication network;

if the established spending limit is at least as large as the estimated charge, calculating a maximum allowable duration for the call in accord with the one-rate service plan and the established spending limit, and completing the call through the wireless communication network;

monitoring length of the completed call in real time while the completed call is ongoing and interrupting the ongoing call through the wireless network if the length of the call reaches the calculated maximum allowable duration;

upon ending of the call through the wireless communication network, recording actual usage data regarding the call;

processing the recorded usage data in accord with the one-rate postpay service plan, to generate a bill for the subscriber; and

sending the bill to the subscriber for payment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication service through the wireless communication network relates to voice telephone service, and the call is a voice telephone call through the wireless communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated charge for completion of the call includes an estimate of an air time charge for use of the wireless communication network in accord with the one-rate postpay service plan.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising deducting an amount of money corresponding to the recorded usage data from the established spending limit to establish an updated value for the spending limit for the wireless communication service subscriber.

5. A method of limiting accumulation of usage billing charges associated with a one-rate postpay service through a wireless communication network in real time, comprising:

establishing a spending limit for a subscriber to a one-rate postpay service plan for providing service at one-rate within a geographic area, for a communication service through the wireless communication network;

detecting a request for the communication service through the wireless communication network for a wireless remote terminal station of the subscriber;

estimating a charge for providing the requested communication service for the wireless remote terminal station in accord with the one-rate postpay service plan;

comparing the estimated charge to the established spending limit for the subscriber;

if the established spending limit is not as large as the estimated charge, denying the wireless remote terminal station from receiving the communication service through the wireless communication network;

if the established spending limit is at least as large as the estimated charge, calculating a maximum limit for the requested communication service, based on the one-rate postpay service plan and the established spending limit, and establishing a link through the wireless communication network with the wireless remote terminal station for the requested communication service;

monitoring extent of ongoing usage of the established link in real time and interrupting ongoing communication over the established link through the wireless communication network if the usage reaches the calculated maximum limit;

upon ending of communication through the established link, recording actual data regarding the monitored usage of the established link;

deducting an amount of money corresponding to the recorded usage data from the established spending limit to establish an updated value for the spending limit for the subscriber;

processing the recorded usage data in accord with the one-rate postpay service plan, to generate a bill for the subscriber; and

sending the bill to the subscriber for payment.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein the requested communication service comprises a voice telephone call, and the maximum limit is a maximum allowable duration for the voice telephone call.

7. The method as in claim 5, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellular telephone network.

8. The method as in claim 5, wherein the requested communication service comprises a data communication session.

9. A method of limiting accumulation of usage billing charges associated with a packet data communication service provided by a wireless communication network in real time, comprising:

establishing a spending limit for a subscriber to a postpay service plan for a packet data communication service offered by the wireless communication network;

detecting a request that the wireless communication network provide the packet data communication service to a wireless remote terminal station of the subscriber;

estimating a charge for providing the requested packet data communication service through the wireless communication network for the wireless remote terminal station;

comparing the estimated charge to the established spending limit for the subscriber;

if the established spending limit is at least as large as the estimated charge, calculating a maximum limit for the requested packet data communication service, based on the postpay service plan and the established spending limit, and establishing a packet data communication link through the wireless communication network with the wireless remote terminal station for the requested packet data communication service;

monitoring extent of ongoing usage of the established packet data communication link in real time, and interrupting ongoing packet data communication over the established link through the wireless communication network, if the usage reaches the calculated maximum limit;

upon ending of communication through the established packet data communication link, recording actual data regarding the monitored usage of the established packet data communication link;

processing the recorded usage data in accord with the postpay service plan, to generate a bill for the subscriber; and

sending the bill to the subscriber for payment.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising deducting an amount of money corresponding to the recorded usage data from the established spending limit to establish an updated value for the spending limit for the subscriber.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein if the established spending limit is not as large as the estimated charge, the method further comprises denying the request for packet data communication service.