US6070066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods for cellular pay phone/debit phone support
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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Filing: 1997-03-25
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Granted: 2000-05-30
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Expires: 2017-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A communications system and a method for providing support for at least one cellular pay phone/debit phone are disclosed. The system has cellular controller for providing cellular communication services to the pay phones/debit phones so as to allow the pay phones/debit phones to communicate with other phones. The system calculates a charge rate for a call being made by a pay phone/debit phone and sends the charge rate to the pay phone/debit phone in a message containing a standard air interface message which is being used in a non-standard manner. The message contains information which allows the pay phone/debit phone to determine the charge rate.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomas Lundborg
- 👤 Benoit Coulombe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/28; H04M17/00; H04M17/01; H04M17/02; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/32; H04W88/00; H04W88/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A communications system which provides support for at least one cellular pay phone/debit phone, comprising: cellular control means for providing cellular communication services to said pay phones/debit phones so as to allow the pay phones/debit phones to communicate with other phones; means for calculating a charge rate for a call being made by a pay phone/debit phone; and means for sending said charge rate to said pay phone/debit phone in a standard air interface message which is being used in a non-standard manner and which contains information which allows the pay phone/debit phone to determine the charge rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A communications system which provides support for at least one cellular pay phone/debit phone, comprising: cellular control means for providing cellular communication services to said pay phones/debit phones so as to allow the pay phones/debit phones to communicate with other phones; means for calculating a charge rate for a call being made by a pay phone/debit phone; and means for sending said charge rate to said pay phone/debit phone in a standard air interface message which is being used in a non-standard manner and which contains information which allows the pay phone/debit phone to determine the charge rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said charge rate is sent to said pay phone/debit phone on an analog voice channel using a mobile station control message having an order code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A communications system according to claim 2, wherein said Order Code is a Voice Message Waiting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communications system according to claim 2, wherein said charge rate is contained within Local/Message Type field within said mobile station control message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A communications system according to claim 2, wherein said Order Code is a Flash With Info.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A communications system according to claim 2, wherein said charge rate is contained in character fields of the Flash With Info.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A communications system according to claim 6, wherein a special string of characters is inserted at the beginning of the character field and the charge rate is contained in the remaining characters of the character field, wherein said special string of characters alerts said pay phone/debit phone that the mobile station control message contains said charge rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A communications system according to claim 6, wherein an order qualifier code indicates that the character field contains a charge rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said charge rate is sent to said pay phone/debit phone on a digital voice channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communications system according to claim 9, wherein said charge rate is transmitted in an information element of a Flash With Info message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A communications system according to claim 9, wherein said charge rate is transmitted in a Voice Message Waiting Information element of a Flash With Info message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A communications system according to claim 9, wherein said charge rate is transmitted in a Calling Party Number information element of a Flash With Info message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A communications system according to claim 12, wherein a special string of characters is inserted at the beginning of the Calling Party Number field and the charge rate is contained in the remaining digits of the Calling Party Number field, wherein said special string of characters alerts said pay phone/debit phone that the Flash With Info message contains said charge rate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said charge rate information is displayed on a display screen on said pay phone/debit phone.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for providing cellular pay phone/debit phone support within a cellular system, said cellular system comprising at least one mobile switching center which can be connected to other communication systems and at least one base station controlled by said mobile switching center, comprising the steps of: assigning a special category code to each pay phone/debit phone and storing said codes in said mobile switching center; directing a call from one of said pay phones/debit phones to a called phone; detecting at said mobile switching center when the call is successfully connected to the called phone; checking said category code for the pay phone/debit phone making the call; and sending said charge rate to said pay phone/debit phone in a standard air interface message which is being used in a non-standard manner and which contains information which allows the pay phone/debit phone to determine the charge rate.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for providing cellular pay phone/debit phone support within a cellular system, said cellular system comprising at least one mobile switching center which can be connected to other communication systems and at least one base station controlled by said mobile switching center, comprising the steps of: assigning a special category code to each pay phone/debit phone and storing said codes in said mobile switching center; directing a call from one of said pay phones/debit phones to a called phone; detecting at said mobile switching center when the call is successfully connected to the called phone; checking said category code for the pay phone/debit phone making the call; and sending said charge rate to said pay phone/debit phone in a standard air interface message which is being used in a non-standard manner and which contains information which allows the pay phone/debit phone to determine the charge rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said charge rate is sent to said pay phone/debit phone on an analog voice channel using a mobile station control message having an order code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said Order Code is Voice Message Waiting.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said charge rate is contained within Local/Message Type within said mobile station control message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said Order Code is a Flash With Info.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said charge rate is contained in character fields of the Flash With Info message.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
A communications system according to claim 20, wherein a special string of characters is inserted at the beginning of the character field and the charge rate is contained in the remaining characters of the character field, wherein said special string of characters alerts said pay phone/debit phone that the mobile station control message contains said charge rate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein an order qualifier field within the Flash With Info message indicates a charge rate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said charge rate is sent to said pay phone/debit phone on a digital voice channel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein said charge rate is transmitted in an information element of a Flash With Info message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein said charge rate is transmitted in a Voice Message Waiting Information element of a Flash With Info message.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein said charge rate is transmitted in a Calling Party Number information element of a Flash With Info message.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein a special string of characters is inserted at the beginning of the Calling Party Number field and the charge rate is contained in the remaining digits of the Calling Party Number field, wherein said special string of characters alerts said pay phone/debit phone that the Flash With Info message contains said charge rate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein said charge rate is displayed on a display screen on said pay phone/debit phone.
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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) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-11-29 | 2004-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-30 | 2007-11-29 | 2008-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-30 | 2011-11-29 | 2012-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |