Pre-paid cellular telephone system
US6101378A · kind A · utility
233Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 8, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W88/02
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A cellular telephone system maintains a database of prepaid cellular telephone service accounts, including an amount of money remaining in each account. The system uses modems in a blank-and-burst mode to send data and commands over a voice channel. When a call is attempted over a mobile unit, the system sends identification information stored in the mobile unit to a debit processing unit, which then permits the call and debits the associated account if a sufficient amount of money remains in the account, otherwise it terminates the call.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.