Identification card and billing process with an identification card
US6543686B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W88/02
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for billing connections of a subscriber identified by a SIM card in a telecommunications network to the subscriber user, including determining the duration and time of the connection using a time-measuring device integrated into the SIM card, which is synchronized with an external clock signal, and determining the amount to be charged based upon connection duration and time and at least one remotely loadable tariff table stored in the SIM card. The time-measuring device can be checked by a time server in the infrastructure, and, if necessary, can be adjusted. The method and apparatus can be used for prepaid as well as for post-paid cards. All data for determining the amount to be charged are available on the SIM card, allowing billing to take place at the source, at the user. No other billing system is required in the infrastructure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.