Apparatus and method for credit based management of telecommunication activity
US5615408A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 19, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W60/00
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for credit based management of a telecommunication system. One embodiment of the apparatus includes an interface for communicating credit information on a particular subscriber and for receiving call records for the particular subscriber that are derived from a switch which establishes connections between telecommunication devices. A credit limit device then utilizes the credit information to establish a credit limit for the subscriber. The apparatus also includes a device for comparing the particular subscriber's call usage to a credit limit established for the subscriber based on information obtained from the credit bureau. An output device is used to provide an indication that the subscriber has exceeded their credit limit. Another embodiment of the apparatus, includes a device for, upon expiration of a predetermined time period, contacting the credit bureau to obtain a new credit score for a subscriber and use this score to update the subscriber's credit limit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.