US6006084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing billing services for a mobile group of communication system users
Assignee: CDC Propriete Intellectuelle
•
Filing: 1997-05-27
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2017-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus used by a communication system (100) to register communication system users which use service provider equipment. Multiple-user and special purpose single-user communication units (110) are provided and/or operated by service providers. MCUs (110) can be located on mobile vehicles or in fixed locations. The system along with MCUs (110) collect registration information and usage information for individual users (440) and individual MCUs (110). Service providers receive billing information concerning the usage of their MCUs (110) by communication system users. After communication system (100) registers each user whose registration information is contained within the at least one combined request message, communication system (100) provides communication services to each user and billing information services to the service provider for the communications service and the service provider furnishing the communications equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan West Miller
- 👤 Daniel Richard Tayloe
- 👤 Kenneth Lee Sowles
- 👤 Baldev Sangha
- 👤 Robert Frederick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18567; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for establishing a billing record for individual members of a group of communication system users, said individual members using a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) to communicate within a communication system, said method comprising said steps of: creating at least one combined request message which comprises equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information for each of said users; sending said at least one combined request message to said communication system so that said communication system can establish said billing record for said individual members for each of said individual members; positioning said MCU on a mobile vehicle; and positioning said individual members at said mobile vehicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for establishing a billing record for individual members of a group of communication system users, said individual members using a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) to communicate within a communication system, said method comprising said steps of: creating at least one combined request message which comprises equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information for each of said users; sending said at least one combined request message to said communication system so that said communication system can establish said billing record for said individual members for each of said individual members; positioning said MCU on a mobile vehicle; and positioning said individual members at said mobile vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: obtaining said equipment identification information, said equipment identification information for identifying said MCU.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: obtaining said location information, said location information for locating said MCU.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: collecting individual registration information for said individual members, said individual members requesting registration with said communication system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of: receiving, at said MCU, at least one response message from said communication system which indicates an equipment identification status for said MCU, a location status for said MCU, and registration status for said individual members requesting registration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of: determining that certain ones of said individual members requesting registration which were successfully registered with said communication system, said certain ones having a registration status that is true; and informing said certain ones which were successfully registered with said communication system that registration was successful.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of: determining that other ones of said individual members requesting registration which were not successfully registered with said communication system, said other ones having a registration status that is false; and informing said other ones which were not successfully registered with said communication system that registration was not successful.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of: sending said equipment identification information when said identification status is false; and not sending said equipment identification information when said equipment identification status is true.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of: obtaining new location information for said MCU when said location status is false; sending said new location information when said location status is false; and not obtaining said new location information when said location status is true.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sending step further comprises the step of: encrypting said at least one combined request message prior to performing said sending step.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of operating a terrestrial station for providing at least one service provider with billing information concerning a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) provided by said at least one service provider, wherein said MCU is used by communication system users to communicate with a communication system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, from said MCU, at least one combined request message which comprises equipment identification information for said MCU, location information for said MCU, and individual registration information for said communication system users, said communication system users requesting registration with said communication system; establishing a billing record for each of said communication system users; and providing said billing record to said at least one service provider.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of operating a terrestrial station for providing at least one service provider with billing information concerning a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) provided by said at least one service provider, wherein said MCU is used by communication system users to communicate with a communication system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, from said MCU, at least one combined request message which comprises equipment identification information for said MCU, location information for said MCU, and individual registration information for said communication system users, said communication system users requesting registration with said communication system; establishing a billing record for each of said communication system users; and providing said billing record to said at least one service provider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said establishing step further comprises the steps of: processing said equipment identification information, said location information, and said individual registration information obtained from said at least one combined request message; determining an identification number for said MCU from said identification information; determining said at least one service provider from said identification number; and preventing certain users from being registered, said certain users are those which are not allowed to use said MCU.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said establishing step further comprises the steps of: determining a location for said MCU from said location information; determining at least one political entity from said location; and preventing certain users from being registered, said certain users are those which are not allowed to use said MCU in said at least one political entity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said establishing step further comprises the steps of: determining a location for said MCU from said location information; comparing said location with operational boundaries for said terrestrial station; determining at least one political entity from said location; and preventing certain users from being registered, said certain users are those which are not allowed to use said MCU in said at least one political entity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said establishing step further comprises the steps of: making individual registration attempts for each of said communication system users requesting registration using said individual registration information; determining which of said communication system users requesting registration were successfully registered with said communication system; and establishing a billing record for each of said communication system users requesting registration which were successfully registered with said communication system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the steps of: accumulating billing records for each of said communication system users; creating at least one combined billing record which comprises said billing records for each of said communication system users; and sending said at least one combined billing record to a billing center.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one combined request message is received in an encrypted form, said method further comprising the step of: decrypting said at least one combined request message prior to performing said establishing step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
125 words
A multiple-user communication unit (MCU), said MCU being located with at least one communication system user, said MCU being used by said at least one communication system user to communicate with a communication system, said MCU comprising: an interface for establishing at least one communication link with said communication system; a processor coupled to said interface, said processor for determining equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information, creating at least one combined request message which comprises said identification information, said location information, and said individual registration information, and sending said at least one combined request message to said interface; and a local network interface coupled to said processor, said local network interface for interfacing between said processor and at least one local network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
125 words
A multiple-user communication unit (MCU), said MCU being located with at least one communication system user, said MCU being used by said at least one communication system user to communicate with a communication system, said MCU comprising: an interface for establishing at least one communication link with said communication system; a processor coupled to said interface, said processor for determining equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information, creating at least one combined request message which comprises said identification information, said location information, and said individual registration information, and sending said at least one combined request message to said interface; and a local network interface coupled to said processor, said local network interface for interfacing between said processor and at least one local network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The MCU as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: encrypting means for encrypting data coupled between said processor and said interface, said encrypting means for encrypting said at least one combined request message prior to said RF interface transmitting said at least one combined request message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The MCU as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: a memory device for storing said equipment identification information, said location information, and said individual registration information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The MCU as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: a geo-location device for providing said location information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
145 words
A terrestrial station in a communication system comprising: an earth terminal for receiving at least one combined request message from a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) and for transmitting at least one response message to said MCU; and an earth terminal controller coupled to said earth terminal, said earth terminal controller for processing said at least one combined request message, wherein said at least one combined request message comprises equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information individual registration information from multiple communication system users who are using said MCU, said earth terminal controller further for identifying said MCU from said equipment identification information, for determining at least one service provider, for determining which of said multiple communication system users were successfully registered, and for establishing a billing record for each of said multiple communication system users which were successfully registered with said communication system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
145 words
A terrestrial station in a communication system comprising: an earth terminal for receiving at least one combined request message from a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) and for transmitting at least one response message to said MCU; and an earth terminal controller coupled to said earth terminal, said earth terminal controller for processing said at least one combined request message, wherein said at least one combined request message comprises equipment identification information, location information, and individual registration information individual registration information from multiple communication system users who are using said MCU, said earth terminal controller further for identifying said MCU from said equipment identification information, for determining at least one service provider, for determining which of said multiple communication system users were successfully registered, and for establishing a billing record for each of said multiple communication system users which were successfully registered with said communication system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
The terrestrial station as claimed in claim 22, wherein said earth terminal controller includes means for accumulating results of individual registration attempts for each of said multiple communication system users, for creating at least one response message which comprises said results, and for sending said at least one response message to said MCU.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
67 words
The terrestrial station as claimed in claim 22, wherein said earth terminal controller includes means for accumulating results of individual registration attempts for each of said multiple communication system users, for creating at least one response message which comprises said results, and for sending said at least one response message to a billing facility that is responsible for creating billing records for said multiple communication system users.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
68 words
The terrestrial station as claimed in claim 22, wherein said earth terminal controller includes means for accumulating results of individual call setup attempts for each of said multiple communication system users, for creating at least one response message which comprises said results, and for sending said at least one response message to a billing facility that is responsible for creating billing records for said multiple communication system users.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
66 words
The terrestrial station as claimed in claim 22, wherein said earth terminal controller includes means for accumulating results of individual calls for each of said multiple communication system users, for creating at least one response message which comprises said results, and for sending said at least one response message to a billing facility that is responsible for creating billing records for said multiple communication system users.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
The terrestrial station as claimed in claim 22, wherein said earth terminal controller includes means for identifying a service provider for each of said multiple communication system users, for creating at least one response message which comprises service provider billing information, and for sending said at least one response message to a billing facility that is responsible for creating billing records for said multiple communication system users.
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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) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |