Roaming and hand-off support for prepaid billing for wireless data networks
US6829473B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W80/04
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing roaming and hand-off support for prepaid billing for wireless prepaid services on a data network may be provided by a first-network-access device carrying on session activity of a wireless communication session with a wireless-mobile node within a first coverage area. The first-network-access device receives blocks of credits drawn from a user account having a cache of available credits for the prepaid-services.The first-network-access device periodically measures usage of the session activity in terms of a first of a plurality of measurement-method parameters. The first-network-access device debits the usage of the session activity from the blocks of credits.After entering its coverage area, the second-network-access device establishes connectivity with the wireless-mobile node. The first-network-access device tunnels to the second-network-access device the session activity and any unused credits. The second-network-access device periodically measures usage of the tunneled session activity in terms of tunneled measurement-method parameters. The second-network-access device debits the usage of the tunneled session activity from the tunneled unus…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.