US 5,592,535 AGranted

Mobile-radio network with debit accounts

AssigneeAlcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft

InventorBernhard Klotz

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Abstract

A mobile-radio network (MRS) includes a mobile switching center (MSC) for receiving incoming calls from mobile-radio subscribers (A). In response to the incoming calls, certain ones of the incoming calls are selected if the respective mobile-radio subscriber (A) has a debit account assigned to it and the debit account has a credit balance. The credit balance is compared with a predetermined minimum balance (Dmin1) and a call is completed if the credit balance exceeds the predetermined minimum balance. The debit account for the respective mobile-radio subscriber is charged a unit fee. Incorporated in the mobile switching center (MSC) is a service switching point (SSP). Additionally, a service control point (SCP) is connected to the service switching point and includes an arithmetic unit (DC) for call charging. The mobile-radio network structure makes it possible to establish connections and charge incoming calls using simple exchange protocols (INAP) without having to change conventional network protocols (MAP).

Claims13

Dependent claims

A mobile-radio network comprising:

a mobile switching center for receiving incoming calls from mobile-radio subscribers, said mobile switching center including means responsive to said incoming calls for selecting incoming calls from mobile-radio subscribers having a predetermined subscriber profile, the predetermined subscriber profile indicating that an incoming call is from a respective mobile-radio subscriber having a debit account, and
network elements of an intelligent network connected to said mobile switching center, said mobile switching center forwarding the selected incoming calls to said network elements, said network elements including:
means for storing, for at least one respective mobile-radio subscriber, a debit account having a credit balance indicative of an amount of credit, and
means responsive to a selected incoming call from the respective mobile-radio subscriber;
for accessing the debit account of the respective mobile-radio subscriber,
for comparing the credit balance in the debit account of the respective mobile-radio subscriber with a first predetermined minimum balance,
for establishing a connection for the selected incoming call from the respective mobile-radio subscriber if the credit balance in the debit account of the respective mobile-radio subscriber exceeds said predetermined minimum balance,
for, once the connection is established, charging the debit account of the respective mobile-radio subscriber by consecutively deducting a unit fee, and
for releasing the connection for the selected incoming call if the debit account of the respective mobile radio subscriber shows no credit balance.

6 more elements

A method of establishing a connection and charging incoming calls in a mobile-radio network comprising a mobile switching center and network elements of an intelligent network, the network elements including a service switching point which is connected to or incorporated in the mobile switching center and a service control point which is connected to the service switching point, the method comprising the following steps:

storing in the service control point, for at least one respective mobile-radio subscriber, a debit account having a credit balance indicative of an amount of credit;
receiving incoming calls from mobile-radio subscribers at the mobile switching center;
selecting incoming calls that have a predetermined subscriber profile, the predetermined subscriber profile indicating that an incoming call is from a respective mobile-radio subscriber having a debit account;
forwarding the selected calls to the service switching point;
accessing the debit account of the respective mobile-radio subscriber for each selected incoming call;
comparing the credit balance in the debit account of the respective mobile-radio subscriber to a predetermined minimum balance;
establishing a connection for a selected incoming call if the debit account of the respective mobile-radio subscriber shows a credit balance greater than the predetermined minimum balance;
once a connection is established, charging for the selected incoming call by consecutively deducting a predetermined unit fee from the debit account of the respective mobile radio subscriber;
and
releasing the connection for the selected incoming call if the debit account of the respective mobile radio subscriber shows no credit balance.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/630,727Filed 2 Apr 1996 · continuation
Priority: DE 43 12 362.716 Apr 1993
Granted: 7 Jan 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

H04W 4/24
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor: accounting or billing
H04M 15/88
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: provision…
H04M 15/90
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: using…
H04M 17/00
Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems

Family

Serial228,568Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Apr 1994
US 5,592,535 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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