Pre-paid wireless interactive voice response system with variable announcements

• US 7,787,860 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• 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: Boyden, Brenda L., Martin, Judy D., Rudd, Adrian C., Meek, Susan F., Casey, Lance F., Espejo, Judith C., Andia, Carmen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer; Temica M
• Application Number:
  US11/459,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 479/114.2
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/723 using the user's device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/853 Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/205 by calling a service number, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] or menu
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/241 by calling a service number IVR, menu
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2006 Fixed telephone network, e.g. POTS, ISDN
• 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 2215/7054 Using the phone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7806 : Time based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/815 : Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8162 : Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13134 : Coin boxes, payphone, prepaid
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 : Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A wireless communications system providing interactive voice response is disclosed. The system is menu-driven, and can accept information and requests from customers. In response to one type of request, the system can provide the customer with information regarding one or more previous transactions. The system also includes provisions that permit customers to retrieve multiple previous transactions.

Claims

1. An interactive voice response system for pre-paid wireless services comprising:

a peripheral device in communication with a mobile switching system, the mobile switching system capable of communicating with at least one wireless device,

an IVR application on the peripheral device comprising a menu driven system adapted to receive information from a customer,

wherein the menu driven system interacts with the customer to receive a request from the customer to annunciate a remaining period of time available before expiration of the pre-paid wireless services and to annunciate the remaining period of time back to the customer.

2. The interactive voice response system according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device includes at least one of an IP and an SCP.

3. The interactive voice response system of claim 1, wherein the menu driven system interacts with the customer to receive a request from the customer to annunciate a most recent date of replenishment of the pre-paid wireless account.

4. The interactive voice response system according to claim 1, wherein the menu driven system includes security provisions that permit customers to only access information related to their own personal accounts.

5. The interactive voice response system of claim 1, wherein the menu driven system interacts with the customer to receive a request from the customer to annunciate an amount of a most recent replenishment of the pre-paid wireless account.

6. The interactive voice response system according to claim 1, wherein the menu driven system resides on the SCP and communicates with at least one of the mobile switching system using IN TCAP messaging and an Intelligent Peripheral using TCP/IP.

7. The interactive voice response system according to claim 1, wherein the menu driven system resides on the SCP and communicates with at least one of the mobile switching system using IN TCAP messaging and an Intelligent Peripheral using IN TCAP messaging over CSS7 Network, and wherein the Intelligent Peripheral plays voice messages and communicates with the mobile switching system through a voice path.

8. The interactive voice response system according to claim 1, wherein the menu driven system retrieves information associated with at least one previous transaction of the customer and the transaction is a call.

9. The interactive voice response system according to claim 8, wherein the menu driven system recites at least one of a cost of the call, a time the call was placed, and a duration of the call.

10. The interactive voice response system of claim 1, wherein the menu driven system interacts with the customer to receive a request from the customer to annunciate a current remaining balance of the pre-paid wireless account.

11. The interactive voice response system according to claim 1, wherein the menu driven system retrieves previous transactions of the customer and recites the previous transactions back to the customer.

12. A computer readable medium having instructions that perform acts for providing interactive voice responses for pre-paid wireless services, the acts comprising:

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

receiving information from a customer via a menu driven system of an IVR application on the peripheral device,

wherein the menu driven system interacts with the customer to receive a request from the customer to annunciate a remaining period of time available before expiration of the pre-paid wireless services and to annunciate the remaining period of time back to the customer.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the peripheral device includes at least one of an IP and an SCP.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the menu driven system includes security provisions that permit customers to only access information related to their own personal accounts.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the menu driven system resides on the SCP and communicates with at least one of the mobile switching system using TN TCAP messaging and an Intelligent Peripheral using TCP/IP.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the menu driven system resides on the SCP and communicates with at least one of the mobile switching system using IN TCAP messaging and an Intelligent Peripheral using IN TCAP messaging over CSS7 Network, and wherein the Intelligent Peripheral plays voice messages and communicates with the mobile switching system through a voice path.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the menu driven system retrieves information associated with at least one previous transaction of the customer and the transaction is a call.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the menu driven system recites at least one of a cost of the call, a time the call was placed, and a duration of the call.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the menu driven system retrieves at least one previous transaction of the customer and the transaction is a replenishment.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the menu driven system recites previous transactions back to the customer.