Methods, systems and computer program products for offloading prepaid status queries from a prepaid status database for unlimited in-network prepaid calls
US7466807B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 2007 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/202
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods, systems, and computer program products for offloading prepaid credit status queries from prepaid credit status databases for unlimited-plan prepaid in-network calls is provided. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method that includes intercepting, at a signaling message routing node, a prepaid status query associated with a call originated by a calling subscriber and directed to a called subscriber. The signaling node then determines whether the calling subscriber is associated with an unlimited calling plan, unlimited text messaging plan, unlimited multimedia messaging plan, or a combination of plans based on the intercepted prepaid status query. The node also determines whether the call is an in-network call based on the intercepted prepaid status query, where an in-network call includes a call between a calling subscriber and a called subscriber belonging to the same network. In response to determining that the call is an in-network call associated with a calling party associated with an unlimited calling, text messaging, or multimedia messaging plan, the signaling node generates a prepaid status response instructing the query origin…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.