Pre-paid wireless interactive voice response system with variable announcements

• US 7,466,806 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Andia, Carmen D., Martin, Judy D., Rudd, Adrian C., Meek, Susan F., Boyden, Brenda L., Espejo, Judith C., Casey, Lance F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US10/861,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20040228457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/76, 379/88.01, 379/88.05, 379/88.06, 379/88.11, 379/88.13, 379/88.16, 379 8822- 8824, 379/114.2, 37911415-11417, 4554121-4143, 455/563, 704/257
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• 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 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/842 Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• 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 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7036 Administer via user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8133 Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue, intelligent peripheral or switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8137 Message, e.g. alphanumeric text, SMS, MMS, EMS or www-based messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A wireless communications system providing interactive voice response is disclosed. The system is menu driven, and can accept information as well as deliver information to the customer in the form of prompts or prompt information. The system includes provisions that permit customers to vary the prompt information. In prompt information can be varied in a number ways, including the method of delivery, the content, pre or post-call prompts, and the frequency in which the prompt information is delivered.

Claims

1. A method for operating an interactive voice response system for pre-paid wireless service, comprising:

communicating between a peripheral device and a mobile switching system, the mobile switching system capable of communicating with at least one wireless device;

receiving information from a customer via an IVR application comprising a menu driven system operating on the peripheral device;

providing prompt information to the customer; and

permitting the customer to vary the prompt information via the menu driven system to determine what prompt information is communicated to the customer when a pre-paid wireless call is made.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to vary how prompt information is delivered.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the prompt information is delivered by at least one of a voice message and a text message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to vary content of the prompt information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising permitting the customer to include at least one of current account balance, time of last incoming call, time of last outgoing call, date of last incoming call, date of last outgoing call, duration of last call, cost of last call, and information related to last replenishment in the prompt information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to select at least one of pre-call delivery and post-call delivery of the prompt information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to select frequency of delivery of the prompt information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising permitting the customer to receive the prompt information at selected intervals.

9. The method of claim 8, where the selected interval is based on at least one of number of calls and dollar amount.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to select delivery of the prompt information only after a threshold has been reached.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the threshold is based on at least one of an estimated number of available minutes and a remaining balance.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to select between at least a minimum prompt information mode and a maximum prompt information mode.

13. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a software application including instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for operating an interactive voice response system for pre-paid wireless service, the method comprising:

communicating between a peripheral device and a mobile switching system, the mobile switching system capable of communicating with at least one wireless device;

receiving information from a customer via an DIR application comprising a menu driven system operating on the peripheral device;

providing prompt information to the customer; and

permitting the customer to vary the prompt information via the menu driven system to determine what prompt information is communicated to the customer when a pre-paid wireless call is made.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to vary how prompt information delivered.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the prompt information is deliverable by at least one of a voice message and a text message.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to vary content of the prompt information.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to include at least one of current account balance, time of last incoming call, time of last outgoing call, date of last incoming call, date of last outgoing call, duration of last call, cost of last call, and information related to last replenishment in the prompt information.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to select at least one of pre-call delivery and post-call delivery of the prompt information.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to select frequency of delivery of the prompt information.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to receive the prompt information at selected intervals.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the selected interval is based on at least one of number of calls and dollar amount.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to select delivery of the prompt information only after a threshold has been reached.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the threshold is based on at least one of an estimated number of available minutes and a remaining balance.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to select between at least a minimum prompt information mode and a maximum prompt information code.