Prepay telecommunications system
US6208851A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/8162
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The prepay telecommunications system (60) includes a prepay call management platform (50) which is directly coupled to a telecommunications carrier switch (24). A customer database (116) is coupled to the prepay call management platform (50) for storing prepay customer data, and a plurality of customer interface facilities (62, 64, 66, 68, 80) are provided for accepting customer prepayment and immediately updating the customer database (116). The prepay calls are recognized by the mobile identification number and is routed to the prepay call management platform (50) coupled to and co-located with the telecommunications carrier switch (24). The customer account balance associated with the prepay call is looked up in a customer database (116), and the maximum allowable call duration in response to the customer account balance is computed. The prepay call is then released to the telecommunications carrier switch (24) for line termination. At the same time, a call duration timer is started. The call is disconnected in response to the call duration timer reaching the maximum allowable call duration. The prepay telecommunications system is applicable to both wireless and non-wireless tel…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.