Operations method for providing wireless communication services

• US 9,432,522 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hutcheson, S. Douglas, Brink, Michael, Jarvis, Scot
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US14/828,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system for rendering wireless communications services to one or more users in return for payment of a charge, the system comprising:

a wireless communications system having a Web server having a processing device, wherein the Web server, via the processing device, performs one or more operations comprising;

determining a flat rate charge for the services;

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

determining the user'"'"'s charge based upon the flat rate for the period of time;

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

receiving payment of the charge substantially before the wireless communications services are rendered to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining the value of the flat rate without relation to minutes of use by the user of the wireless communications services during the period of time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining the value of the flat rate without relation to the number of calls made or received by the user during the period of time.

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

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operations further comprise:

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;

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;

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;

allowing use at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of more than or equal to about 400 minutes of use per month;

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;

allowing use at a rate for the period of time that is proportional to a rate of more than or equal to about 800 minutes of use per month; and

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.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operations further comprise adapting the wireless communications services as the user'"'"'s primary telephone service.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operations further comprise providing the wireless communications services using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.

8. A system for rendering wireless communications services to one or more subscribers in return for payment of a charge, the system comprising:

a wireless communications system having a Web server having a processing device, wherein the Web server, via the processing device, performs one or more operations comprising;

determining a flat rate charge for the services;

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

determining the user'"'"'s charge based upon the flat rate for the period of time;

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

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

providing the wireless communications services primarily in limited geographic areas in which the user substantially lives, works, and plays; and

rendering the charges to the user in a billing statement that does not include detailed call records.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining the value of the flat rate without relation to minutes of use by the user of the wireless communications services during the period of time.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining the value of the flat rate without relation to the number of calls made or received by the user during the period of time.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the period of time further comprises a predetermined period of time.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more operations further comprise providing the wireless communications services using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.

13. A system for rendering wireless communications services to one or more subscribers in return for payment of a charge, the system comprising:

a wireless communications system having a Web server having a processing device, wherein the Web server, via the processing device, performs one or more operations comprising;

determining a flat rate charge for the services;

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

determining the user'"'"'s charge based upon the flat rate for the period of time;

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

rendering the charge to the user in a billing statement that does not include detailed call records;

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

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

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

maintaining centralized control of the wireless communications services; and

operating the wireless communications services to optimize cost containment rather than revenue generation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining the value of the flat rate without relation to minutes of use by the user of the wireless communications services during the period of time.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining the value of the flat rate without relation to the number of calls made or received by the user during the period of time.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the period of time further comprises a predetermined period of time.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more operations further comprise providing the wireless communications services using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.