Method of and system for processing prepaid wireless data communications
First Claim
1. A method of managing data communication through a wireless network as a prepaid service, the method comprising steps of:
- receiving, at a data communication processing element of the wireless network customer, a call for a data communication for a customer'"'"'s wireless communication device;
sending identification information of the customer from the data communication processing element to an administration system of the wireless network;
receiving a call access authorization for the customer, from the administration system;
the call access authorization, received from the administration system, including a record for the customer indicating an amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer;
providing data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network, including through the data communication processing element;
monitoring, at the data communication processing element, volume of the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network;
at the data communication processing element, decrementing available prepaid units from the amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer, based on the monitored volume of the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network;
upon the decremented available prepaid units reaching a predetermined level, sending a notification to the administration system that the predetermined level has been reached with regard to prepaid units available for use by the customer;
receiving processing instructions from the administration system in the data communication processing element; and
further processing the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network, at the data communication processing element, in accord with the received instructions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A prepaid communications system includes a wireless call handling device for receiving wireless calls from wireless customers, a packet data serving node for receiving wireless packet data calls from the wireless call handling device and transmitting the calls to a communications network and an administration system in communication with the packet data serving node. Upon a wireless customer originating a wireless call, the wireless call handling device receives the wireless call and transmits the wireless call to the packet data serving node. The packet data serving node accesses the administration system with identification information input by the customer to obtain a call access authorization for the customer. The administration system transmits the call access authorization to the packet data serving node, the call access authorization including a prepaid volume record indicating an amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer and processing instructions. The packet data serving node then enables the wireless call to proceed on the communications network while monitoring the wireless call and decrementing the available prepaid units from the prepaid volume record associated with the customer. Upon the available prepaid units reaching a predetermined level, as indicated in the processing instructions, the packet data serving node notifies the administration system that the predetermined level has been reached, and the processing instructions are executed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of managing data communication through a wireless network as a prepaid service, the method comprising steps of:
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receiving, at a data communication processing element of the wireless network customer, a call for a data communication for a customer'"'"'s wireless communication device; sending identification information of the customer from the data communication processing element to an administration system of the wireless network; receiving a call access authorization for the customer, from the administration system; the call access authorization, received from the administration system, including a record for the customer indicating an amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer; providing data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network, including through the data communication processing element; monitoring, at the data communication processing element, volume of the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network; at the data communication processing element, decrementing available prepaid units from the amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer, based on the monitored volume of the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network; upon the decremented available prepaid units reaching a predetermined level, sending a notification to the administration system that the predetermined level has been reached with regard to prepaid units available for use by the customer; receiving processing instructions from the administration system in the data communication processing element; and further processing the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network, at the data communication processing element, in accord with the received instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A packet data serving node (PDSN) for managing communication of packetized data through a wireless network as a prepaid service, wherein the PDSN is configured to implement functions comprising:
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receiving, at the PDSN, a call for a packet data communication for a customer'"'"'s wireless communication device; in response to the received call, sending an access request from the PDSN to a prepaid platform of the wireless network; receiving a call access authorization for the customer, from the prepaid platform; the call access authorization, received from the prepaid platform, including a record for the customer indicating an amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer; providing packetized data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network, via the PDSN; monitoring volume of the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network; decrementing the available prepaid units from the amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer based on the monitored volume of the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network; upon the decremented available prepaid units reaching a predetermined level, sending a notification to the prepaid platform that the predetermined level has been reached with regard to prepaid units available for use by the customer; receiving processing instructions from the prepaid platform; and further processing the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network, at the PDSN, in accord with the received instructions.
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14. A wireless communication network, comprising:
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a cell station for wireless communication with wireless communication devices; a switch coupled to the cell station for routing wireless calls to and from wireless communication devices, including receiving a wireless data call for a prepaid customer'"'"'s wireless communication device; a data communication processing element, for processing wireless data calls between the switch and a data communication network, including the data call for the customer'"'"'s device; and a prepaid service authorization system in communication with the data communication processing element; wherein the data communication processing element and the prepaid service authorization system are configured to process the wireless data call for the customer'"'"'s device by performing functions comprising; in response to the data call for the customer'"'"'s device, sending an access request from the data communication processing element to the prepaid service authorization system; based on status of a prepaid account of the customer, sending a call access authorization for the customer, from the prepaid service authorization system to the data communication processing element, wherein the call access authorization includes an indication of an amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer; providing data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network, via the data communication processing element; the data communication processing element monitoring volume of the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network; the data communication processing element decrementing available prepaid units from the amount of prepaid units available for use by the customer, based on the monitored volume of the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network; upon the decremented available prepaid units reaching a predetermined level, the data communication processing element sending a notification to the prepaid service authorization system that the predetermined level has been reached with regard to prepaid units available for use by the customer; the prepaid service authorization system sending processing instructions to the data communication processing element, responsive to the notification that the predetermined level has been reached; and the data communication processing element further processing the data communication for the call for the customer'"'"'s device through the wireless network, in accord with the instructions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification