Operations method for providing wireless communication services

• US 7,907,932 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cricket Communications Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jarvis, Scot, Brink, Michael D., Hutcheson, S. Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US12/358,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20090186600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 455/456.1, 455/466, 379/114.01, 379/114.11, 705/52
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8005 Flat-fee
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• 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 2215/0108 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 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/04 Traffic adaptive resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved operations method for a wireless communication system. The improved business method, operations method, network and system of the present invention includes the steps of delivering cellular services to the mass market, reducing peak capacity, increasing overall capacity utilization, improving capital utilization, providing an “all-you-can-eat” pricing model, and designing capacity based upon where the users live, work, and play.

Claims

1. A method of providing wireless communications services to a subscriber in return for payment of a charge, comprising:

determining a flat rate charge for the services;

determining a period of time within which the flat rate charge shall apply;

determining the subscriber'"'"'s charge based upon the flat rate charge;

providing unlimited access to the wireless communications services for the flat rate charge during the determined period of time; and

receiving payment of the subscriber'"'"'s charge substantially before the wireless communications services are rendered to the subscriber;

wherein the wireless communications services include voice services and data services.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the value of the flat rate without relation to minutes of use of the wireless communications services during the period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the value of the flat rate without relation to the number of calls made or received by the subscriber during the period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time further comprises a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a flat rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $50 per month.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a flat rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of less than or equal to about $30 per month.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing use at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of more than or equal to about 300 calls per month.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing use at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of more than or equal to about 600 minutes of use per month.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing use at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of more than or equal to about 1000 minutes of use per month.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data services consist of a Short Message Service (SMS).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the voice services are provided using voice over IP (VoIP).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data services include information download services for retrieving Internet content.

13. A method of providing wireless communications services to a subscriber in return for payment of a charge, comprising:

determining a period of time for which a flat rate charge for use of wireless communications services shall apply, wherein the wireless communications services comprise data services;

providing, to a subscriber, unlimited access to the wireless communications services for the flat rate charge during the determined period of time; and

receiving, from the subscriber, payment of the flat rate charge before access to the wireless communications services is provided to the subscriber.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless communications services further comprise voice services.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the voice services are provided using voice over IP (VoIP).

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining a geographic area in which the subscriber substantially lives, works, and plays; and

providing the wireless communications services only in the determined geographic area.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the data services comprise a Short Message Service (SMS).

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the data services include information download services for retrieving content from a network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the data services include access to basic data information.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the value of the flat rate without relation to an amount of use of the wireless communications services during the period of time.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the data services are provided using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.