Method and system for re-direction and handoff for pre-paid mobile services in third generation networks
US6973309B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W92/02
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for re-direction and handoff for pre-paid mobile services in third generation (“3G”) networks. A handoff marker is created and used for wireless mobile nodes such as Mobile Internet Protocol (“Mobile IP”) nodes. The handoff markers allow the wireless mobile nodes to use pre-paid mobile services, have active communications sessions suspended and re-directed to a registration server when purchased pre-paid mobile services run-out. The registration server allows the wireless mobile node to electronically purchase additional pre-paid mobile services and immediately resume a suspended communications session. The handoff markers also allows network devices in a mobile network to determine between initiation of a new communications session or a hard handoff of an existing communication session, without adversely affecting pre-paid billing services.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.