Freedom Wireless(Las Vegas, Nevada) patent....(part I)
United States Patent 6,157,823
Fougnies , et al. December 5, 2000
Abstract
A cellular telecommunications system having a security feature which allows only pre-authorized users to complete cellular telephone calls. The system and method recognizes a cellular radiotelephone's pre-programmed a pre-selected telephone number and a automated number identification code (ANI). The pre-selected telephone number is reserved to the pre-paid cellular telecommunications system. The cellular radiotelephone transmits the ANI and a dialed number identification system code (DNIS) to a cellular switch, which contacts a host computer for call validation by the pre-paid service provider.
Inventors: Fougnies; Douglas V. (Tempe, AZ); Harned; Dan B. (Tempe, AZ)
Assignee: Freedom Wireless, Inc. (Las Vegas, NV)
Appl. No.: 009199
Filed: January 20, 1998
What is claimed is:
1. A method of completing pre-paid wireless telephone calls to a subscriber, the subscriber having a prepaid subscriber account balance stored in a database, where the prepaid subscriber account balance is associated with a predetermined wireless telephone number assigned to the subscriber, comprising:
receiving the subscriber's wireless telephone number at a wireless switch, the telephone number corresponding to a wireless telecommunications event initiated by a party calling the subscriber's wireless telephone number, the wireless switch recognizing the subscriber's wireless telephone number as being associated with the subscriber;
communicating between a computer with access to the database and the wireless switch;
validating existence of a pre-determined subscriber account balance in the database; and
if the validating step is successful, completing a call.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising:
checking for a connection with the subscriber's wireless telephone, and periodically validating a call based on the balance associated with the account during the telecommunications event until the call is terminated.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the call is terminated due to validation being unsuccessful.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the call is terminated by a party to the call.
5. The method of claim 1 comprising:
checking for a connection with the subscriber's wireless telephone; and
causing the call to be terminated when a time limit based on the account balance is expired.
6. A method of wireless telecommunications with respect to a subscriber, the subscriber having a prepaid subscriber account balance stored in a database, where the prepaid subscriber account balance is associated with a predetermined wireless telephone number assigned to the subscriber, comprising:
receiving an identifier associated with the subscriber at a wireless switch, the wireless switch recognizing the identifier as being associated with a pre-paid subscriber for whom a wireless telecommunications event has been initiated by a party calling the subscriber's wireless telephone number;
communicating between a computer with access to the database and the wireless switch;
attempting to establish a connection between the wireless switch and the subscriber's wireless telephone;
checking for a connection with the subscriber'wireless telephone, and periodically validating a call based on the balance associated with the account during the telecommunications event until the call is terminated.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the call is terminated due to validation being unsuccessful.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the call is terminated by a party to the call.
9. A method of completing wireless telephone call requests to a subscriber to a pre-paid wireless telephone service, comprising:
receiving at a wireless switch an identifier corresponding to a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom a wireless telephone call is directed;
forwarding the identifier to a pre-paid wireless service provider associated with the pre-paid wireless subscriber that validates an account associated with the pre-paid wireless subscriber based on the forwarded identifier, and if the validation is successful, passes the identifier to a wireless switch and causes the call to be completed, performs periodic real-time validation of the account while the call is in progress, and causes the call to be interrupted while the call is in progress if the periodic validation fails.
10. A method of completing wireless telephone call requests to a subscriber to a pre-paid wireless telephone service, comprising:
receiving at a wireless switch an identifier corresponding to a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom a wireless telephone call is directed;
at a pre-paid wireless service provider associated with a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom a wireless telephone call is directed, receiving from a telecommunications service an identifier corresponding to the pre-paid wireless subscriber;
validating an account associated with the pre-paid wireless subscriber based on the forwarded identifier;
if the validation is successful, passing the identifier to a wireless switch and causing the call to be completed;
performing periodic real-time validation of the account while the call is in progress; and
causing the call to be interrupted while the call is in progress if the periodic validation fails.
11. A method of wireless telecommunications with respect to a subscriber, the subscriber having a prepaid subscriber account balance stored in a database where the prepaid subscriber account balance is associated with a predetermined wireless telephone number assigned to the subscriber, comprising:
receiving an identifier associated with the subscriber at a wireless switch, the wireless switch recognizing the identifier as being associated with a pre-paid subscriber for whom a wireless telecommunications event has been initiated by a party calling the subscriber's wireless telephone number;
communicating between a computer with access to the database and the wireless switch;
attempting to establish a connection between the wireless switch and the subscriber's wireless telephone;
checking for a connection with the subscriber's wireless telephone, and causing a call to be terminated when a time limit based on the account balance is expired.
12. The method of claim 11 comprising:
identifying at least one cost variable associated with the call;
determining a rate associated with a fixed interval of time based on the cost variable; and
converting the account balance to a maximum call length based on the account balance and based on the rate.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the cost variable is time of day.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the cost variable is a destination of the pre-paid wireless call.
15. A method of completing wireless telephone call requests to a subscriber to a pre-paid wireless telephone service, comprising:
receiving at a wireless switch an identifier corresponding to a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom a wireless telephone call is directed;
forwarding the identifier to a pre-paid wireless service provider associated with the pre-paid wireless subscriber that validates an account associated with the pre-paid wireless subscriber based on the forwarded identifier, and if the validation is successful, passes the identifier to a wireless switch, causes the call to be completed, sets a time limit based on the account balance, and causes the call to be terminated when the time limit is expired.
16. A method of completing wireless telephone call requests to a subscriber to a pre-paid wireless telephone service, comprising:
receiving at a wireless switch an identifier corresponding to a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom a wireless telephone call is directed;
at a pre-paid wireless service provider associated with a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom a wireless telephone call is directed, receiving from a telecommunications service an identifier corresponding to the pre-paid wireless subscriber;
validating an account associated with the pre-paid wireless subscriber based on the forwarded identifier; and
if the validation is successful, passing the identifier to a wireless switch and causing the call to be completed; and
causing the call to be terminated when a time limit based on the account balance is expired.
17. A system for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
a wireless switch at which a wireless call request is received; and
a pre-paid wireless service provider, in communication with the wireless switch, that selectively authorizes the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the call request is directed;
wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and
wherein validation of an account by the pre-paid wireless service provider occurs periodically during a call and the call is caused to be terminated if validation is unsuccessful.
18. A method for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
receiving a wireless call request at a wireless switch; and
communicating between the wireless switch and a pre-paid wireless service provider that selectively authorizes the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the call request is directed; wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and wherein validation of an account by the pre-paid wireless service provider occurs periodically during a call and the call is caused to be terminated if validation is unsuccessful.
19. A method for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
at a pre-paid wireless service provider, communicating with a wireless switch at which a wireless call request is received, and selectively authorizing the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the call request is directed;
wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and
wherein validation of an account by the pre-paid wireless service provider occurs periodically during a call and the call is caused to be terminated if validation is unsuccessful.
20. A system for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
a wireless switch at which a wireless call request is received; and
a pre-paid wireless service provider, in communication with the wireless switch, that selectively authorizes the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom to call request is directed;
wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and
wherein validation of an account by the pre-paid wireless service provider includes causing a call is caused to be terminated when a time limit based on a balance in the account is expired.
21. A method for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
receiving a wireless call request at a wireless switch; and
communicating between the wireless switch and a pre-paid wireless service provider that selectively authorizes the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the call request is directed; wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and wherein validation of an account by the pre-paid wireless service provider includes causing a call to be terminated when a time limit based on a balance in the account is expired.
22. A method for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
at a pre-paid wireless service provider, communicating with a wireless switch at which a wireless call request is received, and selectively authorizing the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the call request is directed;
wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and
wherein validation of an account by the pre-paid wireless service provider includes causing a call to be terminated when a time limit based on a balance in the account is expired.
23. A system for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
a wireless switch at which a wireless call request is received; and
a pre-paid wireless service provider, in communication with the wireless switch, that selectively authorizes the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the wireless call request is directed;
wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account balance associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and
wherein validation of the account balance by the pre-paid wireless service provider occurs prior to a call being authorized.
24. A method for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
receiving a wireless call request at a wireless switch; and
communicating between the wireless switch and a pre-paid wireless service provider that selectively authorizes the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the call request is directed; wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account balance associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and wherein validation of the account balance by the pre-paid wireless service provider occurs prior to a call being authorized.
25. A method for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
at pre-paid wireless service provider, communicating with a wireless switch at which a wireless call request is received, and selectively authorizing the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the call request is directed;
wherein the pre-paid wireless service provider selectively authorizes the wireless call request by validating in real time an account balance associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber; and
wherein validation of the account balance by the pre-paid wireless service provider occurs prior to a call being authorized.
26. A system for managing pre-paid wireless communications comprising:
a wireless switch at which is received a wireless call request;
a pre-paid wireless service provider, in communication with the wireless switch, that selectively authorizes the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the wireless call request is directed; and
a database of pre-paid wireless subscribers, comprising account information for the pre-paid wireless subscribers, that is accessed by the pre-paid wireless service provider to decide whether to authorize the wireless call request;
the pre-paid wireless service provider's selective authorization of the wireless call request being based on a real-time validation of an account balance associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber.
27. A method for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
receiving a wireless call request at a wireless switch; and
communicating between the wireless switch and a pre-paid wireless service provider that selectively authorizes the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a pre-paid wireless subscriber to whom the call request is directed, and that accesses a database of pre-paid wireless subscribers, comprising account information for the pre-paid wireless subscribers, in order to decide whether to authorize the wireless call request, the pre-paid wireless service provider's selective authorization of the wireless call request being based on a real-time validation of an account balance associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber.
28. A method for managing pre-paid wireless communications, comprising:
at a pre-paid wireless service provider, communicating with a wireless switch at which a wireless call request is received, and selectively authorizing the wireless call request based on information in the wireless call request that identifies a subscriber to whom the call request is directed; and
accessing a database of pre-paid wireless subscribers, comprising account information for the pre-paid wireless subscribers, in order to decide whether to authorize the wireless call request, the pre-paid wireless service provider's selective authorization of the wireless call request being based on a real-time validation of the of an account balance associated with the identified pre-paid wireless subscriber.
29. A method for pre-paid wireless telephone service, the method comprising:
identifying an originator of a wireless telephone call as a subscriber to a pre-paid wireless telephone service;
causing the call to be connected to a pre-paid switching system; and
a wireless switch sending an identifier associated with the destination of the call and an identifier associated with a pre-paid account of the originator of the call to the pre-paid switching system that validates the balance in the account of the originator of the call, causes the call to be connected to the destination, sets a time limit based on the account balance, and causes the call to be terminated when the time limit is expired.
30. A method for pre-paid wireless telephone service, the method comprising:
at a pre-paid switching system, receiving from a wireless switch an identifier associated with a destination of a wireless telephone call, and an identifier associated with a pre-paid account of an originator of the call, the originator of the call being identified as being a subscriber to the pre-paid wireless telephone service;
validating the balance in the account of the originator of the call;
causing the call to be connected to the destination; and
periodically validating the call based on the balance associated with the account and causing the call to be terminated if validation is unsuccessful.
31. A method for pre-paid wireless telephone service, the method comprising:
at a pre-paid switching system, receiving from a wireless switch an identifier associated with a destination of a wireless telephone call, and an identifier associated with a pre-paid account of an originator of the call, the originator of the call being identified as being a subscriber to the pre-paid wireless telephone service;
validating the balance in the account of the originator of the call;
causing the call to be connected to the destination; and
causing the call to be terminated when a time limit based on the balance in the account is expired.
32. A method for pre-paid wireless telephone service, the method comprising:
identifying an originator of a wireless telephone call as a subscriber to a pre-paid wireless telephone service;
causing the call to be connected to a pre-paid switching system; and
sending an identifier associated with the destination of the call and an identifier associated with a pre-paid account of the originator of the call to the pre-paid switching system that validates the balance in the account of the originator of the call, causes the call to be connected to the destination, and periodically validates the call based on the balance associated with the account and terminates the call if validation is unsuccessful;
wherein the identifier associated with the pre-paid account is an electronic serial number.
33. A system for providing pre-paid wireless telephone service, comprising:
(a) a database of information pertaining to subscribers to the pre-paid wireless telephone service;
(b) a computer with access to the database of information pertaining to subscribers to the pre-paid wireless telephone service, which computer receives, from a wireless switch, an identifier associated with a destination of a wireless telephone call, and an identifier associated with a pre-paid account of an originator of the call, the originator of the call being identified as being a subscriber to the pre-paid wireless telephone service;
(c) a computer that receives information from the wireless switch and that:
(i) validates a balance in the pre-paid account of the originator of the call;
(ii) causes the call to be connected to the destination;
(iii) periodically validates the call based on the balance associated with the account; and
(iv) causes the call to be terminated if validation is unsuccessful.
34. A system for providing pre-paid wireless telephone service, comprising:
(a) a database of information pertaining to subscribers to the pre-paid wireless telephone service;
(b) a computer with access to the database of information pertaining to subscribers to the pre-paid wireless telephone service, which computer receives, from a wireless switch, an identifier associated with a destination of a wireless telephone call, and an identifier associated with a pre-paid account of an originator of the call, the originator of the call being identified as being a subscriber to the pre-paid wireless telephone service;
(c) a computer that receives information from the wireless switch and that:
(i) validates a balance in the pre-paid account of the originator of the call;
(ii) causes the call to be connected to the destination;
(iii) sets a time limit based on the account balance; and
(iv) causes the call to be terminated when the time limit is expired.
35. A method for pre-paid wireless telephone service comprising:
receiving an identifier associated with a pre-paid account of an originator of a call at a wireless switch;
at the wireless switch, determining whether the identifier is associated with a pre-paid account; and
if the identifier is associated with a pre-paid account, communicating with a pre-paid service provider and causing the identifier associated with the pre-paid account and an identifier associated with a destination of the call to be sent to the pre-paid service provider.
36. A method as set forth in claim 35 and including:
at the pre-paid service provider, validating the call based on the balance associated with the account;
causing the call to be completed; and
periodically validating the call based on the balance associated with the account and causing the call to be terminated if validation is unsuccessful.
37. The method as set forth in claim 36 wherein the step of periodically validating the call continues until the call is terminated or the balance in the account reaches a predetermined amount.
38. The method as set forth in claim 36 including terminating the call when the balance in the account reaches a predetermined amount.
39. The method of claim 35 comprising:
at the pre-paid service provider, validating the call based on the balance associated with the account;
causing the call to be completed; and
causing the call to be terminated when a time limit based on the account balance is expired.
40. The method as set forth in claim 35 wherein the step of determining whether the identifier is associated with a pre-paid account comprises accessing a database remote from the pre-paid service provider and comparing the identifier with numbers stored in the database. |
