System for managing prepaid wireless service

• US 7,406,305 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telemac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Telemac Corporation
• Inventors: Laybourn, Bernard T, Walter, Theodore W
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US10/616,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20040009760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/405, 455/435.1, 370/352
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/48 Sending information over a non-traffic network channel or another connection than the one actually used, e.g. signalling, D-channel, data and voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/92 Autonomous calculations of charges in terminal, i.e. meter not controlled from exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method facilitates provisioning of pre paid wireless services. Credit refresh operations involving a pre paid wireless communication device involve SMS messages transmitted to the device over the air. The device uses tariff tables to keep track of a call'"'"'s impact on available credit. The tariff tables are updatable at the service provider'"'"'s discretion using SMS messages.

Claims

1. A system for managing a wireless service, comprising:

a wireless device having both an internally stored credit amount and a preprogrammed number to communicate with an automated interactive response system operated by a wireless service provider;

a wireless service provider server on which said automated interactive response system resides;

wherein a user of said wireless device can use said internally stored preprogrammed number in a wireless device communication to request an increase in credit amount from said automated interactive response system; and

,

wherein said automated interactive response server can automatically send a data bearer communication service message to said wireless device which is used by said wireless device to increase said credit amount.

2. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 1, wherein said data bearer communication service is a short message service (SMS).

3. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 1, wherein said interactive response system is an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

4. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 1, wherein said credit amount is prepaid.

5. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 1, wherein said data bearer communication service message is encrypted.

6. A system for managing a wireless service, comprising:

a wireless device having both an internally stored credit amount and a preprogrammed number to communicate with an automated interactive response system operated by a wireless service provider;

a wireless service provider server on which said automated interactive response system resides;

wherein a user of said wireless device can use said internally stored preprogrammed number in a wireless device communication to unbar said wireless device and request an increase to the internally stored credit amount from said automated interactive response system; and

,

wherein said automated interactive response system can automatically remove a bar to the wireless device'"'"'s receipt of data bearer communication service messages and send a data bearer communication service message to said wireless device which is used by said wireless device to increase the internally stored credit amount.

7. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 6, wherein said data bearer communication service is a short message service (SMS).

8. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 6, wherein said interactive response system is an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

9. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 6, wherein said data bearer communication service message is encrypted.

10. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 6, wherein said data bearer communication service message can also be used for said server to download a tariff table into a memory of said wireless device.

11. A system for managing a wireless service, comprising:

a wireless device having both an internally stored credit amount and a preprogrammed number to communicate with an automated interactive response system operated by a wireless service provider;

a wireless service provider server on which said automated interactive response system resides;

wherein a user of said wireless device can use said internally stored preprogrammed number in a wireless device communication to unbar said wireless device and request an increase to the internally stored credit amount from said automated interactive response system; and

,

wherein said automated interactive response system can automatically remove a bar to the wireless device'"'"'s receipt of data bearer communication service messages, obtain authorization for the requested credit amount increase and send a data bearer communication service message to said wireless device which is used by said wireless device to increase the internally stored credit amount.

12. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 11, wherein said data bearer communication service is a short message service (SMS).

13. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 11, wherein said interactive response system is an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

14. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 11, wherein said data bearer communication service message is encrypted.

15. The system for managing a wireless service of claim 11, wherein said data bearer communication service message can also be used for said server to download a tariff table into a memory of said wireless device.