Patent EP0093930A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6480710B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6480710B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for managing prepaid wireless service
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
•
Filing: 1999-07-16
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Granted: 2002-11-12
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Expires: 2019-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A method facilitates provisioning of pre-paid wireless services. Credit refresh operations involving a pre-paid wireless communication device involve SMS messages transmitted to the device over-the-air. The device uses tariff tables to keep track of a calls impact on available credit. The tariff tables are updatable at the service provider's discretion using SMS messages.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Thomas Laybourn
- 👤 Theodore W. Watler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/67; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/32; G06Q20/322; G06Q20/325; G06Q20/3255; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q20/3433; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; H04M15/28; H04M15/30; H04M17/00; H04M17/20; H04M17/204; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M2017/24; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/20; H04M2215/2026; H04M2215/32; H04M2215/48; H04M2215/92; H04W88/00; H04W88/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for managing a wireless prepaid service using a control arrangement and a wireless device having a memory, comprising the steps of: storing a device identification number, calling tariff data, an available amount and one or more programs in the memory of the wireless device; receiving a first signal from a telephone system, the first signal being indicative of a connection of a call; after receiving the first signal, modifying the available amount as a function of the calling tariff data and a length of the call using the one or more programs; and updating the calling tariff data in the memory of the wireless device using a first message sent via a data bearer communication service.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for managing a wireless prepaid service using a control arrangement and a wireless device having a memory, comprising the steps of: storing a device identification number, calling tariff data, an available amount and one or more programs in the memory of the wireless device; receiving a first signal from a telephone system, the first signal being indicative of a connection of a call; after receiving the first signal, modifying the available amount as a function of the calling tariff data and a length of the call using the one or more programs; and updating the calling tariff data in the memory of the wireless device using a first message sent via a data bearer communication service.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: storing an access number of the control arrangement in the memory of the wireless device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: accessing the control arrangement via at least one of the wireless network, a wired telephone network and a communication network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: preventing the wireless device from receiving and sending the call using the control arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the wireless device is prevented from receiving or sending the call when the available amount is less than a predetermined amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein the control arrangement renders the wireless device incapable of receiving or sending the call when a condition suggesting fraud is detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein the condition suggesting fraud is detected by monitoring data stored in a subscriber database located external to the wireless device and the available amount stored in the memory of the wireless device; and wherein the data stored in the subscriber database relates to usage information and the available amount.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the wireless device is prevented from receiving or sending the call by a customer service representative.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of preventing the wireless device from receiving or sending the call further comprises the substeps of: transmitting a second message via the data bearer communication service to the wireless device; and upon receiving the second message, restricting the wireless device so as to prevent it from receiving or sending the call.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of preventing the wireless device from receiving or sending the call further comprises the substeps of: transmitting a second message via the data bearer communication service to the telephone system; and upon receiving the second message, rendering the wireless device inoperable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: if the wireless device is unable to receive and/or send the call, allowing the wireless device to contact the control arrangement via an access number.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: determining an update amount as a function of at least one of a prepaid card, a credit card and a debit card using the control arrangement; transmitting the update amount to the wireless device using a second message sent via the data bearer communication service; and modifying the available amount by the update amount within the memory of the wireless device in accordance with the second message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: updating the available amount in the memory of the wireless device using a second message sent via the data bearer communication service.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the data bearer communication service is short message service.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the memory of the wireless device includes a smartcard; and wherein one or more of the device identification number, the calling tariff data, the available amount and the one or more programs are stored in the smartcard.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the memory of the wireless device includes a subscriber identity module; and wherein one or more of the device identification number, the calling tariff data, the available amount and the one or more programs are stored in the subscriber identity module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: activating the wireless device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
158 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein the step of activating the wireless device further comprises substeps of: storing the device identification number in the control arrangement; forwarding the device identification number stored in the memory from the wireless device to the control arrangement; determining whether the device identification number forwarded from the wireless device is valid by comparing it to the device identification number stored in the control arrangement and whether the wireless device has been previously activated; upon determining that the forwarded device identification number is valid and the wireless device has not been previously activated, transmitting one or more codes to the wireless device; upon receiving the one or more codes, executing the one or more application programs so as to enable the wireless device to perform its normal functions; and after executing the one or more application programs, forwarding an acknowledgment to the control arrangement to indicate that the wireless device has been activated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 18 wherein communications between the control arrangement and the wireless device are implemented using messages sent via the data bearer communication service.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 18 wherein the device identification number is a MSISDN.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for managing a wireless prepaid service, comprising: means for storing one or more of a device identification number, calling tariff data, an available amount and one or more programs on a wireless device; means for receiving a first signal from a telephone system, the first signal being indicative of a connection of a call; means for modifying the available amount as a function of the calling tariff data and a length of the call using the one or more application programs upon receiving the first signal; and means for updating the calling tariff data in the wireless device using a first message sent via a data bearer communication service.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for managing a wireless prepaid service, comprising: means for storing one or more of a device identification number, calling tariff data, an available amount and one or more programs on a wireless device; means for receiving a first signal from a telephone system, the first signal being indicative of a connection of a call; means for modifying the available amount as a function of the calling tariff data and a length of the call using the one or more application programs upon receiving the first signal; and means for updating the calling tariff data in the wireless device using a first message sent via a data bearer communication service.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 21 further comprising: means for updating the available amount in the wireless device using a second message sent via the data bearer communication service.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 21 wherein the data bearer communication service is short message service.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 21 wherein the means for storing one or more of the device identification number, the calling tariff data, the available amount and the one or more programs is implemented as a smartcard.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system according to claim 21 wherein the means for storing one or more of the device identification number, the calling tariff data, the available amount and/or the one or more programs is implemented as a subscriber identity module.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 21 further comprising: means for activating the wireless device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
165 words
The system according to claim 26 wherein the means for activating the wireless device further comprises: means for storing the device identification number in a control arrangement; means for forwarding the device identification number stored in the wireless device to the control arrangement; means for determining whether the device identification number forwarded from the wireless device is valid by comparing it to the device identification number stored in the control arrangement and whether the wireless device has been previously activated; means for transmitting one or more codes to the wireless device upon determining that the forwarded device identification number is valid and the wireless device has not been previously activated; means for executing the one or more application programs so as to enable the wireless device to perform its normal functions upon receiving the one or more codes; and means for forwarding an acknowledgment to the control arrangement to indicate that the wireless device has been activated after executing the one or more application programs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 27 wherein the device identification number is a MSISDN.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 21 further comprising: means for preventing the wireless device from receiving and sending the call using at least one of a control arrangement and the wireless device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 29 further comprising: means for allowing the wireless device to contact the control arrangement via the access number if the wireless device is unable to receive and/or send the call.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system according to claim 21 further comprising: means for determining an update amount as a function of at least one of a prepaid card, a credit card and a debit card using the control arrangement; means for transmitting the update amount to the wireless device using a second message sent via the data bearer communication service; and means for modifying the available amount by the update amount within the memory of the wireless device in accordance with the second message.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system according to claim 29 wherein the wireless device is prevented from receiving or sending the call when the available amount is less than a predetermined amount.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 29 wherein the wireless device is prevented from receiving or sending the call when a condition suggesting fraud is detected.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system according to claim 33 wherein the condition suggesting fraud is detected by monitoring data stored in a subscriber database located external to the wireless device and the available amount stored in the memory of the wireless device; and wherein the data stored in the subscriber database relates to usage information and the available amount.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 29 wherein the wireless device is prevented from receiving or sending the call by a customer service representative.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system according to claim 29 wherein the means for preventing the wireless device from receiving or sending the call further comprises: means for transmitting a second message via the data bearer communication service to the wireless device; and means for restricting the wireless device so as to prevent it from receiving or sending the call upon receiving the second message.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system according to claim 29 wherein the means for preventing the wireless device from receiving or sending the call further comprises: means for transmitting a second message via the data bearer communication service to the telephone system; and the telephone system further comprises means for rendering the wireless device inoperable upon receiving the second message.
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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) | 2005-11-11 | 2006-05-13 | 2006-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-11 | 2010-05-13 | 2010-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-11 | 2014-05-13 | 2014-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |