Pre-paid wireless interactive voice response system with variable announcements

• US 8,060,057 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• 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., Andia, Carmen D., Espejo, Judith C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer; Temica M
• Application Number:
  US12/851,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20100297982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/408, 455/414.1, 379/88.1
• 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; and

an interactive voice response (IVR) application on the peripheral device comprising a menu driven system adapted to receive information from a customer, the menu driven system to interact with the customer to receive a request from the customer to select variable aspects of announcements made to the customer,

wherein the request from the customer is to select a prompt level provided by the system to the customer, the prompt level determining frequency of messages provided by the system to the customer, wherein the request from the customer is to select a prompt level provided by the system to the customer, the prompt level determining frequency of messages provided by the system to the customer.

2. The interactive voice response system according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the prompt level is for the customer to receive one of maximum prompts and minimum prompts.

3. The interactive voice response system according to claim 2, wherein selection of the maximum prompts provides for announcements every time the customer makes a call.

4. The interactive voice response system according to claim 2 wherein selection of the minimum prompts provides fewer announcements than selection of maximum prompts and provides announcements whenever an account balance falls below a predetermined level.

5. The interactive voice response system according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral device includes at least one of an Intelligent Peripheral (IP) and a Service Control Point (SCP).

6. The interactive voice response system according to claim 5, wherein the menu driven system resides on the SCP and communicates with at least one of the mobile switching system using Intelligent Network (IN) Transactional Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) messaging and an Intelligent Peripheral using TCP/IP.

7. The interactive voice response system according to claim 5, 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 interacts with the customer to receive as part of the request from the customer, a selection in how announcements arc delivered to the customer.

9. The interactive voice response system according to claim 8 wherein the selection is for one of announcements delivered as voice messages and announcements delivered as text messages.

10. The interactive voice response system according to claim 8 wherein the menu driven system interacts with the customer to receive as part of the request from the customer a selection of announcements to be delivered as text messages.

11. The interactive voice response system according to claim 8 wherein the menu driven system interacts with the customer to receive as part of the request a selection of one of pre and post call announcements.

12. A method of operating an interactive voice response system for pre-paid wireless services comprising:

interacting with a pre-paid wireless customer using an interactive voice response (IVR) application having a menu driven system receiving information from a customer;

receiving a request from the customer using the menu driven system to select aspects of announcements made to the customer; and

responsive to the request from the customer, varying a prompt level provided by the system to the customer, the prompt level selecting frequency of messages provided by the system to the customer, and responsive to the request from the customer, varying a prompt level provided by the system to the customer, the prompt level selecting frequency of messages provided by the system to the customer.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the request from the customer to receive one of maximum prompts and minimum prompts;

responsive to the request for maximum prompts providing announcements every time the customer makes a call; and

responsive to the request for minimum prompts providing announcements whenever account balance falls below a predetermined level.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising receiving as part of the request from the customer a selection of one of delivering announcements to the customer as voice messages and delivering announcements to the customer as text messages.

15. The method according to claim 12 further comprising receiving as part of the request a selection of one of pre and post call announcements.