System and method for providing prepaid communications

• US 7,729,484 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Coppage, Carl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/829,734
• Time in Patent Office: 2,231 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.01, 37911415-1142, 455405-408, 455/410, 455/411, 370/352
• 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 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit

Abstract

A method and system for network-based control over voice calling from a client telephony device. A client telephony device receives a user-request to place a voice call from the client telephony device and responsively sends to a controller, via a packet-data connection, a request for authorization to place the voice call. The client telephony device then receives from the controller, via the packet-data connection, a response to the request. And the client telephony device then sends to a network entity (e.g., a switch) a call origination request message seeking to initiate the voice call, only if the response from the controller indicates that the client telephony device is authorized to place the voice call. Further, the controller can also monitor a account balance for the client telephony device and direct the device to disconnect the call when the balance is exhausted.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving into an account balance service logic module within a client telephony device a user-request to place a voice call from the client telephony device;

responsively sending from the client telephony device to a controller, via a packet-data connection, a request for authorization to place the voice call;

receiving into a voice call logic module within the client telephony device from the controller, via the packet-data connection, a response to the request; and

sending from the client telephony device to a network entity a call origination request message seeking to initiate the voice call, only if the response indicates that the client telephony device is authorized to place the voice call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon establishment of the voice call, sending from the client telephony device to the controller, via the packet-data connection, a call-connected message.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, at the client telephony device:

during the voice call, receiving from the controller, via the packet-data connection, a call-disconnect message instructing the client telephony device to disconnect the voice call; and

responsively disconnecting the voice call.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

during the voice call, receiving from the controller, via the packet-data connection, a notification message indicating account balance information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the controller:

generating the response to the request, based on an evaluation of a prepaid account balance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the response to the request based on the evaluation of the prepaid account balance comprises:

indicating in the response that the client telephony station is authorized to place the voice call, only if the prepaid account balance is sufficient.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

upon establishment of the voice call, sending from the client telephony device to the controller, via the packet-data connection, a call-connected message.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, at the controller:

receiving the call-connected message; and

monitoring the prepaid account balance during the voice call.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, at the controller:

determining that the prepaid account balance has reached a low threshold level, and responsively sending from the controller to the client telephony device, via the packet-data connection, an instruction for the client telephony device to disconnect the voice call.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising, at the controller:

decrementing the account balance during the voice call.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, at the controller:

receiving an end-of-call message from the client telephony device, via the packet-data connection; and

responsively discontinuing the decrementing of the account balance.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the client telephony device:

detecting disconnection of the packet-data connection; and

responsively disconnecting the voice call.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the client telephony device comprises a cellular wireless telephone.

14. A method comprising:

receiving into an account balance service logic module within a client telephony device a user-request to place a voice call from the client telephony device;

responsively sending from the client telephony device to a controller, via a packet-data connection, a request for authorization to place the voice call;

generating a response to the request at the controller, based on an evaluation of an account balance, and sending the response to the client telephony device via the packet-data connection;

sending from a voice call logic module within the client telephony device to a network entity a call origination request message seeking to initiate the voice call, only if the response indicates that the client telephony device is authorized to place the voice call;

upon establishment of the voice call, sending from the client telephony device to the controller, via the packet-data connection, a call-connected message;

decrementing and monitoring the account balance at the controller, during the voice call; and

detecting that the account balance has reached a low threshold level and responsively sending from the controller to the client telephony device, via the packet-data connection, an instruction for the client telephony device to disconnect the voice call,

wherein the client telephony device disconnects the voice call in response to the instruction.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the client telephony device comprises a cellular wireless telephone.

16. A system comprising:

a client telephony device;

a network controller;

wherein the client telephony device is arranged to receive within an account balance service logic module a user-request to place a voice call from the client telephony device and to responsively send to the controller, via a packet-data connection, a request for authorization to place the voice call;

wherein the controller is arranged to generate a response to the request for authorization, based on an evaluation of an account balance, and to send the response to the client telephony device via the packet-data connection; and

wherein a voice call logic module within the client telephony device is arranged to send to a network entity a call origination request message seeking to initiate the voice call, only if the response indicates that the client telephony device is authorized to place the voice call.

17. The system of claim 16,

wherein the controller is arranged to decrement and monitor the account balance during the voice call.

18. The system of claim 17,

wherein the controller is arranged to detect when the account balance has reached a low threshold level and to responsively send to the client telephony device, via the packet-data connection, an instruction for the client telephony device to disconnect the voice call;

and

wherein the client telephony device is arranged to disconnect the voice call in response to the instruction.

19. The system of claim 18,

wherein the client telephony device comprises a cellular wireless telephone.

20. The system of claim 18,

wherein the client telephony device is further arranged to detect disconnection of the packet-data connection and to responsively disconnect the voice call.