US5692037A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
On demand real time telephone billing equipment
Assignee: FRIEND FOUNDATION
•
Filing: 1995-03-31
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2015-03-31
Abstract
Abstract An on demand, real time billing equipment for a user of a radio telephone employs a telephone switching platform, including an unintelligent switch and a computer, which is in communication with a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone transmitting system, and long distance telephone transmitting system. The computer is programed to monitor, control and rate telephone calls made by customer to tally for each separate customer the identification of each individual phone number called, the date of each individual phone number called, duration of each individual phone number called, and the cost of each individual call and provide detail billing information on demand in real time. For rented radio telephones, an access terminal is in communication with the credit authorization center at which the identification of the customer is entered. When the rented telephone is returned, a printer prints a hard copy bill that provides the phone numbers of each individual call made using the rented telephone, the date of each individual call, and duration of each individual call immediately at the deactivation of the radio telephone.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence Friend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/44; H04M17/00; H04M17/02; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0104; H04M2215/20; H04M2215/2026; H04M2215/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An on demand, real time billing equipment for a customer of a rented, radio telephone, including an unmodified radio telephone which is unable to provide a user on demand with immediate access to billing information, a telephone switching platform in communication with said unmodified radio telephone and a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone transmitting system, and long distance telephone transmitting system, said telephone switching platform including an unintelligent switch and a computer in communication with a credit authorization center which validates the credit of said customer, said computer being programed to monitor, control and rate telephone calls made by said customer to tally for each separate customer billing information including the identification of each individual phone number called, the date of each individual phone number called, duration of each individual phone number called, and the cost of each individual call, and make available immediately on demand for each separate customer said billing information, and an access terminal in communication with the credit authorization center at which the identification of the customer is entered, said terminal having a printer that prints a hard copy bill when the rented telephone is returned, said bill providing the phone numbers of each individual call made using the rented telephone, the date of each individual call, and duration of each individual call.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
An on demand, real time billing equipment for a customer of a rented, radio telephone, including an unmodified radio telephone which is unable to provide a user on demand with immediate access to billing information, a telephone switching platform in communication with said unmodified radio telephone and a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone transmitting system, and long distance telephone transmitting system, said telephone switching platform including an unintelligent switch and a computer in communication with a credit authorization center which validates the credit of said customer, said computer being programed to monitor, control and rate telephone calls made by said customer to tally for each separate customer billing information including the identification of each individual phone number called, the date of each individual phone number called, duration of each individual phone number called, and the cost of each individual call, and make available immediately on demand for each separate customer said billing information, and an access terminal in communication with the credit authorization center at which the identification of the customer is entered, said terminal having a printer that prints a hard copy bill when the rented telephone is returned, said bill providing the phone numbers of each individual call made using the rented telephone, the date of each individual call, and duration of each individual call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The on demand, real time billing equipment of claim 1 where the telephone may be authorized at a remote location by entering a special access phone number using the telephone key pad enter the special access phone number which thereupon actuates an automatic voice prompting instrument that provides instructions over the telephone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The on demand, real time billing equipment of claim 2 where the instructions include directing the customer to enter an authorized credit account number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The on demand, real time billing equipment of claim 1 where the computer is programmed to provide separate billing for the time of radio telephone usage and the time of long distance usage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The on demand, real time billing equipment of claim 1 where the access terminal is in communication with the credit authorization center through the computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
168 words
An on demand, real time billing equipment for radio telephones, including an unmodified radio telephone which is unable to provide a user on demand with immediate access to billing information, a telephone switching platform in communication with said unmodified radio telephone and a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone transmitting system, and long distance telephone transmitting system, said telephone switching platform including an unintelligent switch and a computer with memory and programed to monitor, control and rate telephone calls made by individual users to tally for each separate user and store in the memory billing information including the identification of each individual phone number called, the date of each individual phone number called, duration of each individual phone number called, and the cost of each individual call, and make available immediately on demand for each separate user said billing information, and an access terminal in communication with the computer that enables a user to access on demand in real time said billing information stored in the computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
An on demand, real time billing equipment for radio telephones, including an unmodified radio telephone which is unable to provide a user on demand with immediate access to billing information, a telephone switching platform in communication with said unmodified radio telephone and a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone transmitting system, and long distance telephone transmitting system, said telephone switching platform including an unintelligent switch and a computer with memory and programed to monitor, control and rate telephone calls made by individual users to tally for each separate user and store in the memory billing information including the identification of each individual phone number called, the date of each individual phone number called, duration of each individual phone number called, and the cost of each individual call, and make available immediately on demand for each separate user said billing information, and an access terminal in communication with the computer that enables a user to access on demand in real time said billing information stored in the computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The on demand, real time billing equipment of claim 6 where the computer is in communication with a credit authorization center which validates the credit of said user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The on demand, real time billing equipment of claim 6 where the user is instructed upon making a call to enter an authorized credit account number.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
212 words
A method for billing on demand, in real time radio telephone calls, including providing (a) an unmodified, radio telephone which is unable to provide a user on demand with immediate access to billing information, (b) a telephone switching platform in communication with a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone transmitting system, and long distance telephone transmitting system, said telephone switching platform including an unintelligent switch and a computer with memory, said computer programed to monitor, control and rate telephone calls made by individual users to tally for each separate user and store in the memory billing information including the identification of each individual phone number called, the date of each individual phone number called, duration of each individual phone number called, and the cost of each individual call, and make available immediately on demand for each separate user said billing information, and (c) an access terminal in communication with the computer that enables a user to access on demand in real time said billing information stored in the computer, and making a telephone call using the unmodified radio telephone, with said call being switched through said platform to the radio telephone transmitting system to complete the call, said call being rated in real time by the programmed computer in the platform.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
212 words
A method for billing on demand, in real time radio telephone calls, including providing (a) an unmodified, radio telephone which is unable to provide a user on demand with immediate access to billing information, (b) a telephone switching platform in communication with a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone transmitting system, and long distance telephone transmitting system, said telephone switching platform including an unintelligent switch and a computer with memory, said computer programed to monitor, control and rate telephone calls made by individual users to tally for each separate user and store in the memory billing information including the identification of each individual phone number called, the date of each individual phone number called, duration of each individual phone number called, and the cost of each individual call, and make available immediately on demand for each separate user said billing information, and (c) an access terminal in communication with the computer that enables a user to access on demand in real time said billing information stored in the computer, and making a telephone call using the unmodified radio telephone, with said call being switched through said platform to the radio telephone transmitting system to complete the call, said call being rated in real time by the programmed computer in the platform.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |