Postpay spending limit using a cellular network usage governor
US6947723B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/32
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The usage limited postpay service, for mobile wireless communication customers, utilizes a governor platform that estimates all appropriate usage charges and applies those charges in substantially real-time against a pre-set spending cap or limit for each customer. When the customer reaches the limit based on estimated charges, further usage is prohibited, even if the customer reaches the limit during an ongoing call or communication session. The actual bill for service, however, is generated in the normal manner after calls made or received during each billing cycle of the postpay service. The customer may deposit money or make payments against billed amounts, to reset the limit in the database associated with the governor platform. Use of the postpay billing approach allows the carrier to offer the cap or limit on essentially any of the carrier's normal postpay service plans, for example, including any or all of the carriers one-rate service plans.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.