Prepaid call management in intelligent network

• US 6,952,575 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2000
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Lorello, Timothy J., Titus, Mark, Ung, Dara, Countryman, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/533,805
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/414, 455/406, 455/408, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8207 Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/28 SMS billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13134 Coin boxes, payphone, prepaid
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 : Store & forward, messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 : Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Architecture and a method for a cost-effective implementation of new services using existing triggers, network elements, and messaging protocols in a telecommunications network. An industry wide uniformity is maintained among providers of the services while maximizing the utilization of the existing network, and without the need to wait for future developments of new standards or equipment. The architecture and methods utilize existing triggers to manage and control special service type calls, e.g., a prepaid call, within the network. ISDN User Part (ISUP) messaging protocol may be used for message exchange between network elements. A standard TCP/IP backbone is used for database interaction. Translation Type capabilities of the Service Transfer Point (STP) are used for intelligent call routing functions.

Claims

1. A method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network, comprising:

receiving a call initiation from an originator;

determining one of a plurality of service types associated with a call relating to said call initiation;

routing call signaling and not said call itself to a service control point if said service type is a prepaid service type, said service control point having a database of profiles of a plurality of subscribers in a telecommunications network; and

establishing a communication link between said originator and said destination.

2. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, wherein:

said communication link is established by exchanging at least one message between said service control point and a service switching point associated with at least one of said originator and said destination.

3. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, wherein:

said prepaid service is a prepaid telephone call.

4. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 3, wherein:

said prepaid telephone call is a wireless prepaid telephone call.

5. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least one message is an ISDN User Part (ISUP) message of Signaling System 7 (SS7).

6. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, wherein:

said determination of said service type is made using a Translation Type capability of Signaling Control Connection Part (SCCP) layer of Signaling System 7 (SS7).

7. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 1, wherein:

said profiles include prepaid account balance information relating to respective ones of said plurality of subscribers.

8. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting a message to said originator, said message including prepaid account balance information relating to said originator.

9. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 8, wherein:

said message is transmitted substantially immediately after a termination of a prepaid service call.

10. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting a message to said destination, said message including prepaid account balance information relating to said destination.

11. The method of managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 10, wherein:

said message is transmitted substantially immediately after a termination of a prepaid service call.

12. Apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network, comprising:

means for receiving a call initiation from an originator;

means for determining one of a plurality of service types associated with a call relating to said call initiation;

means for routing call signaling and not said call itself to a service control point if said service type is a prepaid service type, said service control point having a database of profiles of a plurality of subscribers in a telecommunications network; and

means for establishing a communication link between said originator and said destination.

13. The apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for establishing said communication link establishes said communication link by exchanging at least one message between said service control point and a service switching point associated with at least one of said originator and said destination.

14. The apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 12, wherein:

said prepaid service is a prepaid telephone call.

15. The apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 14, wherein:

said prepaid telephone call is a wireless prepaid telephone call.

16. The apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least one message is an ISDN User Part (ISUP) message of Signaling System 7 (SS7).

17. The apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 12, wherein:

said determination of said service type is made using a Translation Type capability of Signaling Control Connection Part (SCCP) layer of Signaling System 7 (SS7).

18. The apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 12, wherein:

said profiles include prepaid account balance information relating to respective ones of said plurality of subscribers.

19. The apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for transmitting a message to said originator, said message including prepaid account balance information relating to said originator.

20. The apparatus for managing a call between an originator and a destination in a telecommunications network according to claim 19, wherein:

said means for transmitting transmits said message substantially immediately after a termination of a prepaid service call.

21. A telecommunications intelligent network, comprising:

a service control point having a database of profiles relating to a plurality of users of a telecommunications intelligent network;

at least one service transfer point adapted to determine a service type associated with a call between an originator and a destination, and to route call signaling and not said call itself to said service control point if said service type is a prepaid service type; and

at least one of a service switching point and a mobile switching center adapted to communicate with said service control point to establish a communication link between said originator and said destination.

22. The telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 21, wherein:

said service control point and said service switching point are adapted to communicate with each other using ISDN User Part (ISUP) messages of Signaling System 7 (SS7).

23. The telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 21, wherein:

said service transfer point is adapted to determine said service type using a Translation Type capability of Signaling Control Connection Part (SCCP) layer of Signaling System 7 (SS7).

24. The telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 21, wherein:

said profiles include prepaid account balance information relating to respective ones of said plurality of subscribers.

25. The telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 23, wherein:

said service control point is adapted to transmit a message to said originator, said message including prepaid account balance information relating to said originator.

26. The telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 24, wherein:

said message is transmitted substantially immediately after a termination of a repaid call service call.

27. The telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 23, wherein:

said service control point is adapted to transmit a message to said destination, said message including prepaid account balance information relating to said destination.

28. The telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 26, wherein:

said message is transmitted substantially immediately after a termination of a prepaid call service call.

29. The service control point in a telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 28, wherein:

said prepaid service logic is adapted exchange said at least one message with said service switching point using ISDN User Part (ISUP) messages of Signaling System 7 (SS7).

30. The service control point in a telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 29, wherein:

said message is transmitted substantially immediately after a termination of a prepaid call service call.

31. A service control point in a telecommunications intelligent network, comprising:

a database of profiles of a plurality of subscribers of a telecommunications intelligent network; and

prepaid service logic adapted to exchange call signaling and not said call itself with a service control point to establish a communication link between a service switching point and a mobile switching center of said telecommunications intelligent network for a predetermined service type call for at least one of said plurality of subscribers, said establishment of said communication link being based on account balance information of said at least one subscriber stored in said database.

32. The service control point in a telecommunications intelligent network according to claim 31, wherein:

said prepaid service logic is adapted to transmit a message to said at least one subscriber, said message including prepaid account balance information regarding said at least one subscriber.

33. A signal transfer point in a telecommunications intelligent network, comprising:

means for determining whether a call initiated by a caller requires one of a prepaid call service and a postpaid call service, said determination being based on Translation Type mapping capability of at least one of a Signaling Control Connection Part (SCCP) layer of Signaling System 7 (SS7) and SS7 User Part (ISUP) messaging.

34. A method of providing a signal transfer point in a telecommunications intelligent network, comprising:

determining whether a call initiated by a caller requires one of a prepaid call service and a postpaid call service;

wherein said determination is based on a Translation Type capability of Signaling Control Connection Part (SCCP) layer of Signaling System 7 (SS7).