Patent · US Expired

Communication system including debiting provisions for communicating with a subsystem that charges a fee

US6081703A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 23, 1997
Grant dateJun 27, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 23, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M15/00
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for debiting of messages transmitted from a local network, A, to a public network, B. The user in the local network obtain or purchase stamps which can be used in connection with message transmission between the two networks. The stamps are purchased from subscriber equipments in the public network, B. The stamps are stored in a stamp register, where each stamp is given a unique number, date of issue, and to whom it has been issued, and time of validity. In connection with the use of the stamps the user state the stamp number which is identified by the system which in connection with the message transmission delete the mentioned stamp from the stamp register. The debiting for the stamps are made either at the purchase or in connection with the use of the stamps. Stamps which have been paid in advance and which have not been used within one in advance prescribed time of validity causes a repayment to the subscriber in the public network. The repayment can relate to the whole cost of the stamp or part thereof.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.