Prepaid service in a packet-switched mobile communication network
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a server, a message associated with an activation request for an Internet data service;
obtaining, from a database, information pertaining to a prepaid account balance associated with a mobile station;
determining whether the prepaid account balance associated with the mobile station is sufficient for the Internet data service;
in response to the prepaid account balance being sufficient for the Internet data service, sending an Internet access inquiry to a content server;
receiving, from the content server, an Internet access response;
monitoring the volume of data transferred between the content server and the mobile station during the Internet data service;
updating the prepaid account balance associated with the mobile station based at least in part on the volume of data transferred between the content server and the mobile station during the Internet data service, wherein the prepaid account balance is updated in response to a request for release of the data service, wherein the request for release is received from a gateway support node (GGSN), wherein the mobile station is associated with a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) number or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number that is correlated to an Internet Protocol (IP) address, wherein the IP address is included in packets sent from the content server to the mobile station, and wherein at least one of the packets are received by the mobile station; and
sending a request to the content server to discontinue the Internet data service prior to the prepaid account balance reaching zero.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for implementing a prepaid service in a packet-switched mobile communication network, in which information requested by a mobile station is delivered to the mobile station so long as the subscriber has maintained a sufficient prepaid balance from which the service charges can be deducted. An access point name definition, which points to a service node via which access to or use of an associated prepaid service is provided, is defined. A control server is used to monitor the service traffic between the mobile station and the content server after the access point name definition identified in an activation request for data service has been sent from the mobile station. Traffic monitoring continues as long as the data service is active, and the prepaid service balance in a billing database is dynamically updated to reflect the subscriber'"'"'s ongoing use of the data service based on the continued monitoring of the control server.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a server, a message associated with an activation request for an Internet data service; obtaining, from a database, information pertaining to a prepaid account balance associated with a mobile station; determining whether the prepaid account balance associated with the mobile station is sufficient for the Internet data service; in response to the prepaid account balance being sufficient for the Internet data service, sending an Internet access inquiry to a content server; receiving, from the content server, an Internet access response; monitoring the volume of data transferred between the content server and the mobile station during the Internet data service; updating the prepaid account balance associated with the mobile station based at least in part on the volume of data transferred between the content server and the mobile station during the Internet data service, wherein the prepaid account balance is updated in response to a request for release of the data service, wherein the request for release is received from a gateway support node (GGSN), wherein the mobile station is associated with a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) number or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number that is correlated to an Internet Protocol (IP) address, wherein the IP address is included in packets sent from the content server to the mobile station, and wherein at least one of the packets are received by the mobile station; and sending a request to the content server to discontinue the Internet data service prior to the prepaid account balance reaching zero. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 10)
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5. A system comprising:
a server configured to receive a message associated with an activation request for an Internet data service; obtain, from a database, information pertaining to a prepaid account balance associated with a mobile station; determine whether the prepaid account balance associated with the mobile station is sufficient for the Internet data service; in response to the prepaid account balance being sufficient for the Internet data service, send an Internet access inquiry to a content server; receive, from the content server, an Internet access response; monitor the volume of data transferred between the content server and the mobile station during the Internet data service; update the prepaid account balance associated with the mobile station based at least in part on the volume of data transferred between the content server and the mobile station during the Internet data service, wherein the prepaid account balance is updated in response to a request for release of the data service, wherein the request for release is received from a gateway support node (GGSN), wherein the mobile station is associated with a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) number or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number that is correlated to an Internet Protocol (IP) address, wherein the IP address is included in packets sent from the content server to the mobile station, and wherein at least one of the packets are received by the mobile station; and send a request to the content server to discontinue the Internet data service prior to the prepaid account balance reaching zero. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Specification