Prepaid telecommunication system

• US 7,848,734 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Engelhart, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard; Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US10/295,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,945 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-409, 455410-411, 455/414.1, 455/435.1, 455451-4522, 455/426.1, 455/550.1, 455/566, 379/114.2, 379/111, 379/114.01, 705/80, 705/77, 705/52
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8228 Session based
• 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/26 with real-time recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection user is asked if he wants to recharge or not
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• 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 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 : Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7833 : Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 : Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A device communicates with a telecom system to establish a call or data session. The communication includes an identifier used by the telecom system to obtain account information and/or preauthorization from a fund guardian. The fund guardian maintains account information about the device and/or subscriber associated with the identifier. A fund guardian authorizes a call access cost or data session access cost. The telecom system facilitates the call or data session between the device and a destination address until the authorized access costs are expired. A reauthorization can occur prior to expiration. An access rate negotiation may also include a bandwidth negotiation.

Claims

1. A method of user payment in a telecommunication system, comprising:

receiving from a device, a message specifying one of a plurality of data repositories, wherein the specified data repository is separate from any home location register in the telecommunication system;

receiving from the device, a request to establish a call or data session with the device on the telecommunication system, the request comprising a device identifier;

obtaining account information associated with the device from the specified data repository using the device identifier to identify the associated account information, wherein the specified data repository is remote from the device such that the account information is not transmitted by the device;

sending to a fund guardian the device identifier, the account information and a payment amount needed to use the device;

receiving from the fund guardian, an authorization indicating the payment amount is available;

based on the authorization from the fund guardian, allowing use of the device on the telecommunication system; and

storing a highest-acceptable rate in the data repository, wherein the highest-acceptable rate indicates a highest rate that a customer associated with the device is willing to pay for use of the telecommunication system by the device without a requirement for explicit authorization.

2. The method of claim 1, further including tracking an amount of time the device uses the telecommunication system and terminating the use if the authorized payment amount is expended.

3. The method of claim 2, further including sending an alert to the device that the authorized payment amount is nearly expended, and receiving a second authorization from the fund guardian to continue use of the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a wireless mobile telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, further including transferring funds from the fund guardian to the telecommunication system based on and after the use of the telecommunication system by device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated account information comprises information identifying the fund guardian.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises information identifying the fund guardian.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the payment amount from the data repository.

9. A method of user payment in a telecommunication system, comprising:

receiving in a transmission from a device, information specifying one of a plurality of data repositories, wherein the specified data repository is separate from any home location register in the telecommunication system;

receiving from the device, a request to establish a call or data session with the device on the telecommunication system, the request comprising a device identifier;

receiving in a transmission from the device a payment amount needed to use the device and a highest acceptable rate;

obtaining account information associated with the device from the specified data repository using the device identifier to identify the associated account information, wherein the specified data repository is remote from the device such that the account information is not transmitted by the device;

sending to a fund guardian the device identifier, the account information and the payment amount; and

receiving from the fund guardian, an authorization indicating the payment amount is available.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the device is a wireless mobile telephone.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving authentication information from the device;

sending the authentication information to the fund guardian.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving fund guardian identifying information that identifies the fund guardian out of a plurality of fund guardians.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fund guardian identifying information is received from the specified data repository.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the fund guardian identifying information is received from the device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the fund guardian identifying information is a network address.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the data repository specifying information is a network address.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the fund guardian is not part of the telecommunication system.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the specified data repository is not part of the telecommunication system.