Method for changing mobile subscriber service plan

• US 7,236,780 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Voight, Kenneth J., True, Sandra L., Sheen, Baoling S., Overend, Kevin J., Benco, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, HUY Q
• Application Number:
  US10/623,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20050020243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/418, 455/419, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/433
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• 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

A method for automating changes to a service plan between a mobile subscriber and a wireless service provider is provided. In one embodiment, the method creates a temporary service plan for the subscriber. This method includes: a) receiving a request to create the temporary plan, b) retrieving the subscriber'"'"'s existing service plan from a subscriber database, c) providing a change selection menu to the user, d) modifying the existing service plan in conjunction with one or more user selections associated with the change selection menu to create the temporary plan, and e) storing the temporary plan in the subscriber database. In another embodiment, the method modifies the subscriber'"'"'s existing service plan and the modified service plan supercedes the previous service plan. In another aspect, a method for processing a call from a mobile station associated with the subscriber when the temporary service plan is in effect is provided.

Claims

1. A method for creating a temporary service plan for a subscriber of a wireless service provider when the subscriber currently has a normal service plan with the wireless service provider, the method including the steps of:

receiving a request to create the temporary service plan from a user;

retrieving the subscriber'"'"'s normal service plan from a subscriber database;

reporting the normal service plan to the user;

providing a change selection menu to the user in response to the request;

creating the temporary service plan in conjunction with one or more user selections associated with the change selection menu;

storing the temporary service plan in the subscriber database;

and

receiving a request for service plan status from the user.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the user transmits the received request to create the temporary service plan using a mobile station associated with the subscriber'"'"'s normal service plan.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further including:

verifying the user has authority associated with the subscriber to create the temporary service plan.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the request from the user is via a call to one of a switching center, a peripheral device and an auxiliary component associated with the wireless service provider from a telephone device.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes an automated interactive audio portion.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes an interactive graphical display portion.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes a portion for selection between a nationwide plan and a local plan.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes a portion for selection of a quantity of airtime associated with a predetermined period of calendar time.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes a portion for selection of a date for expiration of the temporary service plan.

10. A method for modifying a service plan for a subscriber of a wireless service provider, the method including the steps of:

a) receiving a call from a user requesting status of the service plan, wherein the call is initiated by the user via a telephone device

b) retrieving the service plan from a subscriber database;

c) reporting the service plan to the user in response to the status request;

d) receiving a request to modify the service plan from the user via the telephone device;

e) verifying the user has authority associated with the subscriber to modify the service plan;

f) providing a change selection menu to the user in response to the modification request;

g) modifying the service plan or creating a temporary service plan in conjunction with one or more user selections associated with the change selection menu; and

h) storing the modified service plan in the subscriber database;

wherein receiving the call, retrieving the service plan, reporting the service plan, receiving a request to modify the service plan, verifying the user has authority, providing a change selection menu, modifying the service plan or creating the temporary service plan and storing the modified service plan are each performed by a device associated with the wireless service provider.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the telephone device is a mobile station associated with the subscriber'"'"'s service plan.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes an automated interactive audio portion.

13. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes an interactive graphical display portion.

14. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes a portion for selection between a nationwide plan and a local plan.

15. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes a portion for selection of a quantity of airtime associated with a predetermined period of calendar time.

16. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the change selection menu provided to the user includes a portion for selection of a date for extension and expiration of the service plan.

17. A method for processing a call from a mobile station in a wireless network when the call is associated with a subscriber having a normal service plan with a wireless service provider associated with the wireless network, the method including the steps of:

a) receiving the call from the mobile station;

b) determining if the subscriber has a temporary service plan that is in effect with the wireless service provider;

c) if a temporary service plan is in effect, continuing to process the call and determining charges for the call according to the temporary service plan;

d) if a temporary service plan is not in effect, determining if the subscriber had a temporary service plan that recently expired; and

e) if a temporary service plan recently expired, sending a message to the mobile station informing the user that a temporary service plan has recently expired, continuing to process the call, and determining charges for the call according to the normal service plan.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, further including f) if a temporary service plan has not recently expired, continuing to process the call and determining charges for the call according to the normal service plan.

19. A method for providing service plan flexibility to a wireless service subscriber the method comprising:

establishing a normal service plan having a normal plan start date and a normal plan end date in association with a directory number;

establishing a temporary service plan in association with the same directory number;

associating a temporary plan start time or date with the temporary service plan;

associating a temporary plan expiration time and/or date with the temporary service plan, wherein the temporary plan start time or date and expiration time or date are between the normal plan start and end dates;

billing calls according to the temporary service plan if a current time is within a range associated with the temporary plan start time and/or date and the temporary plan expiration time and/or date; and

billing calls according to the normal plan if the current time is outside the range associated with the temporary plan start time and/or date and the temporary plan expiration time and/or date.