US6131024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for setting subscriber-defined usage limits on a mobile terminal
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
•
Filing: 1997-10-09
•
Granted: 2000-10-10
•
Expires: 2017-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A telecommunications system and method for allowing the owner of a Mobile Station to define usage limits based on air time usage or by a dollar amount, e.g., charging information. When the limits are exceeded, the Mobile Station will be inoperable except for emergency calls or calls to predefined numbers established by the subscriber. The accumulated usage (time/dollar amount) can be reset and the Mobile Station returned to normal operation by the subscriber using a user-defined password.
Inventors
- 👤 David Boltz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 01:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W12/00; H04W12/08; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/88; H04M17/00; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/08; H04L63/083; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0116; H04M2215/32; H04W8/00; H04W8/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A telecommunications system for allowing a mobile subscriber to define limits on usage for a mobile terminal associated with said mobile subscriber, said telecommunications system comprising: a memory containing a current cumulative usage value associated with an amount of usage of said mobile terminal and a usage limit value defined by said mobile subscriber to monitor the usage of said mobile terminal, said usage limit value defining only a portion of a usage subscription plan subscribed to by said mobile subscriber; and a mobile services center in wireless communication with said mobile terminal and connected to said memory to obtain said usage limit value and said current cumulative usage value, said mobile services center comparing said current usage value with said usage limit value and selectively denying said mobile terminal access to said telecommunications system when said current usage value exceeds said usage limit value, said mobile services center allowing said mobile terminal access to said telecommunications system in response to receiving a reset command from said mobile subscriber, said reset command setting said current cumulative usage value to zero without requiring additional value to be paid by said mobile subscriber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A telecommunications system for allowing a mobile subscriber to define limits on usage for a mobile terminal associated with said mobile subscriber, said telecommunications system comprising: a memory containing a current cumulative usage value associated with an amount of usage of said mobile terminal and a usage limit value defined by said mobile subscriber to monitor the usage of said mobile terminal, said usage limit value defining only a portion of a usage subscription plan subscribed to by said mobile subscriber; and a mobile services center in wireless communication with said mobile terminal and connected to said memory to obtain said usage limit value and said current cumulative usage value, said mobile services center comparing said current usage value with said usage limit value and selectively denying said mobile terminal access to said telecommunications system when said current usage value exceeds said usage limit value, said mobile services center allowing said mobile terminal access to said telecommunications system in response to receiving a reset command from said mobile subscriber, said reset command setting said current cumulative usage value to zero without requiring additional value to be paid by said mobile subscriber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said usage limit value includes a maximum amount of air time usage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said usage limit value includes a maximum monetary amount to be charged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, further comprising a home location register in communication with said mobile services center, said memory being located within said home location register.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The telecommunications system of claim 4, further comprising a visitor location register in communication with said home location register and said mobile services center, said usage limit value and said current cumulative usage value being forwarded to said visitor location register from said home location register when said mobile terminal is located within the area serviced by said visitor location area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The telecommunications system of claim 4, wherein said usage limit value is set and stored by a usage application within said home location register.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, further comprising an intelligent node in communication with said mobile services center, said memory being located within said intelligent node.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said memory is located within said mobile terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said memory is located within said mobile terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said mobile services center includes a usage monitoring application for comparing said usage limit value with said current cumulative usage value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein an error message is sent to said mobile terminal by said mobile services center when said current cumulative usage value exceeds said usage limit value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal is allowed access to said telecommunications system when said mobile terminal places a call to an emergency number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal is allowed access to said telecommunications system when said mobile terminal places a call to a predefined number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said reset command includes a password associated with said mobile subscriber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said current cumulative usage value and said usage limit value are communicated to said mobile subscriber through said mobile terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said reset command is sent from said mobile terminal to said mobile services center in an unstructured supplementary service data message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said usage limit value is deactivated by said mobile subscriber, said mobile services center allowing said mobile terminal access to said telecommunications system in response to said usage limit value being deactivated.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for allowing a mobile subscriber to define limits on usage for a mobile terminal associated with said mobile subscriber, said method comprising the steps of: defining, by said mobile subscriber, a usage limit value to monitor the usage of said mobile terminal, said usage limit value defining only a portion of a usage subscription plan subscribed to by said mobile subscriber; storing said usage limit value in a memory within said telecommunications system, said memory including a current cumulative usage value associated with an amount of usage of said mobile terminal; accessing, by a mobile services center in wireless communication with said mobile terminal, said memory to retrieve said usage limit value and said current cumulative usage value; comparing said usage limit value and said current cumulative usage value; selectively restricting access to said telecommunications system when said current cumulative usage value exceeds said usage limit value; and allowing access to said telecommunications system in response to receiving a reset command from said mobile subscriber, said reset command setting said current cumulative usage value to zero without requiring additional value to be paid by said mobile subscriber.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for allowing a mobile subscriber to define limits on usage for a mobile terminal associated with said mobile subscriber, said method comprising the steps of: defining, by said mobile subscriber, a usage limit value to monitor the usage of said mobile terminal, said usage limit value defining only a portion of a usage subscription plan subscribed to by said mobile subscriber; storing said usage limit value in a memory within said telecommunications system, said memory including a current cumulative usage value associated with an amount of usage of said mobile terminal; accessing, by a mobile services center in wireless communication with said mobile terminal, said memory to retrieve said usage limit value and said current cumulative usage value; comparing said usage limit value and said current cumulative usage value; selectively restricting access to said telecommunications system when said current cumulative usage value exceeds said usage limit value; and allowing access to said telecommunications system in response to receiving a reset command from said mobile subscriber, said reset command setting said current cumulative usage value to zero without requiring additional value to be paid by said mobile subscriber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said usage limit value includes a maximum amount of air time usage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said usage limit value includes a maximum monetary amount to be charged.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said telecommunications system further comprises a home location register in communication with said mobile services center, said memory being located within said home location register.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said telecommunications system further comprises a visitor location register in communication with said home location register and said mobile services center, and further comprising the step of: after said step of defining, forwarding said usage limit value and said current cumulative usage value to said visitor location register from said home location register when said mobile terminal is located within the area serviced by said visitor location area.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said step of defining is performed by a usage application within said home location register, said usage application updating said current cumulative usage value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said telecommunications system further comprises an intelligent node in communication with said mobile services center, said memory being located within said intelligent node.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said memory is located within said mobile terminal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said mobile terminal has a subscriber identity module therein, said memory being located within said subscriber identity module.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said step of comparing is performed by a usage monitoring application within said mobile services center.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said mobile services center sends an error message to said mobile terminal when said current cumulative usage value exceeds said usage limit value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said mobile terminal is allowed access to said telecommunications system when said mobile terminal places a call to an emergency number.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said mobile terminal is allowed access to said telecommunications system when said mobile terminal places a call to a predefined number.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said reset command includes a password associated with said mobile subscriber.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said current cumulative usage value and said usage limit value are communicated to said mobile subscriber through said mobile terminal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said step of defining is performed by said mobile subscriber entering said usage limit value on said mobile terminal, and said mobile terminal sending said usage limit value to said mobile services center, using an unstructured supplementary service data message.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: after said step of defining, activating said usage limit value, and placing a call on said mobile terminal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: after said step of defining, deactivating said usage limit value, and placing a call on said mobile terminal, said mobile terminal being allowed access to said telecommunications system in response to said usage limit value being deactivated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5673306A
Cited
WO1992016078A1
Cited
WO1993012606A1
Cited
US5465401A
Cited
US5826185A
Cited
US5854975A
Cited
US5796790A
Cited
US5577029A
Cited
US5749052A
Cited
EP0746135A2
Cited
US5852812A
Cited
US5778313A
Cited
US5812945A
Cited
US5864755A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-10 | 2004-04-10 | 2004-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-10 | 2008-04-10 | 2008-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-10 | 2012-04-10 | 2012-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |