Systems and methods for monitoring "pay-as-you-go" telecommunication services

• US 20060063510A1
• Filed: 11/11/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pay As You Go, LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: Fifth Third Bank (Fifth Third Bancorporation)
• Inventors: Steinberg, David A., Wills, Harold S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1414 in real-time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Telecommunication services systems and methods are disclosed. The telecommunication services systems and methods preferably enable the user and/or the responsible party to make payments as the user uses the telecommunication services. The systems and methods may also be employed to provide the user and/or the responsible party with specialized pricing options and other customized services.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring use of a plurality of telecommunication services, the plurality of telecommunication services including a limited use service and an unlimited use service, comprising:

monitoring use of the limited use service by a user;

comparing the use to a threshold of use;

communicating results of the comparison to the user; and

preventing the use of the limited use service by the user, whereby such prevention does not include preventing the use of the unlimited use service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein preventing the use of the limited use service further comprises directing the user to an interactive system in response to an attempt of the user to use the limited use service, the interactive system operable to enable the user to make payment for additional use of the limited use service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold of use is associated with an amount of money.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited use service is associated with anytime use of a telecommunication service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlimited use service is associated with a special pricing plan.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlimited use service is associated with communication with a particular telephone number or electronic address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the unlimited use service is associated with a service plan for a minor child, the unlimited use service only permitting calls from a telecommunications device of the minor child if the calls are directed to a telephone number associated with a guardian of the minor child.

8. A method of monitoring the use of a telecommunication service, the method comprising:

monitoring the use of the telecommunication service;

comparing data received from monitoring the use of the telecommunication service to one or more notification events, the notification events being associated with the origin or destination of communications initiated using the telecommunication service; and

initiating communication of the data received from monitoring the use to a predetermined location in response to the comparison.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein comparing the data to one or more notification events further comprises determining if an emergency call has been placed using the telecommunication service.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating the data associated with the use further comprises initiating communication to a plurality of individuals, the plurality of individuals being determined by a notice tree.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein communicating the data associated with the use further comprises initiating communication of a report to a guardian of a minor child, the report including information associated with the use of a telecommunication service by a minor child.