US 5,359,642 A · Method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections by registered groups of subscribers in a telecommunication switching network

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections between first and second telecommunication devices operably associable with the telecommunication lines of a telecommunication switching network. In general, the method involves storing monetary value data representative of a prepaid e.g. deposited in a centralized storage device, amount of monetary value available for payment of telecommunication connections in the telecommunication switching network. At the initiation of the first telecommunication device, a telecommunication connection is established between the first and second telecommunication devices so that a telecommunication process can be conducted therebetween. The telecommunication connection between the first and second telecommunication devices is terminated in response to termination of the telecommunication process. The time duration of the telecommunication connection is measured. The cost of the telecommunication connection is computed using the measured time duration and applicable prepaid rate data. The stored monetary value data is processed to indicate a decrement in the available prepaid monetary value, which decrement is essentially equal to the computed cost of the telecommunication connection. Telecommunication cost computing apparatus are provided for carrying out the method of the present invention using various telecommunication devices including privately sponsored prepay-type and cellular phones. Advantageously, the present invention allows groups of registered subscribers to prepay a bulk amount of monetary funds for telecommunication connections initiated by the members of the registered group, and thereby acquire preferred calling rates.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method for prepayment of telecommunication connections between two or more telecommunication devices each operably associable with telecommunication lines of a telecommunication switching network having a central switching system operably connected to a billing system, said method comprising the steps:

(a) storing in a first storage means in said central switching system, a group of subscriber numbers, each said subscriber number being associated with a subscriber line having membership to a prepaid group of subscriber lines;
(b) storing in a second storage means in said billing system, monetary value data representative of a prepaid amount of monetary value available to each said subscriber line of said prepaid group, for payment of the cost of telecommunication connections in said telecommunication switching network;
(c) transmitting a first called party number over a first subscriber line to said central switching system, in order to establish a first telecommunication connection between at least a first pair of telecommunication devices, wherein at least one of said first pair of telecommunication devices is operably associated with said first subscriber line;
(d) at said central switching system, determining that said first subscriber line is in said prepaid group of subscriber lines;
(e) at said central switching system, measuring the time duration of said first telecommunication connection;
(f) at said billing system, computing the cost of said first telecommunication connection using applicable rate data and said measured time duration of said first telecommunication connection;
and
(g) at said billing system, processing said stored monetary value data of said prepaid group, to indicate a first decrement in said prepaid amount of monetary value, said first decrement being essentially equal to said computed cost of said first telecommunication connection.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections by registered groups of subscribers in a telecommunication switching network

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections by registered groups of subscribers in a telecommunication switching network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5