Network support for mobile service plan minute exchange by category
US7203478B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/7254
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the present method is for allowing a mobile subscriber to negotiate via a mobile terminal a trade of minutes by category according to a predetermined exchange rate as set forth by a service provider. In this embodiment the method may have the steps of: providing a plurality of categories of usage associated with a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal having associated therewith predetermined amounts of time respectively for the categories during a predetermined time interval; tracking, by the telecommunication network, respective time used by the mobile terminal in each category of the plurality of categories during the predetermined time interval; initiating, by the mobile terminal, a trade transaction with the telecommunication network; sending, from the telecommunication network to the mobile terminal, current amount of used time respectively in each category of the plurality of categories; selecting, at the mobile terminal, at least a portion of at least one remaining time in one category of the plurality of categories for transfer to at least one other category of the plurality of categories, for a respective category, a remaining time of the respective categ…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.