Prepaid security cellular telecommunications system

A cellular telecommunications system, comprising, in combination:

• (a) a plurality of cellular radiotelephones each having a predetermined subscriber telephone number;
• (b) at least one local exchange carrier;
• (c) at least one cellular carrier;
• (d) at least one cellular switch in communication with at least one local exchange carrier;
• (e) at least one host computer in communication with said at least one cellular switch;
• (f) processing means resident in the cellular switch for receiving signals from both the at least one local exchange carrier and the cellular carrier and sending signals to both the at least one local exchange carrier and cellular carrier;
• (g) processing means resident in the at least one host computer for accepting and evaluating a subscriber database comprising a plurality of records representing subscribers to the cellular telecommunications system and including pre-paid account balance information for each subscriber;
• and
• (h) a prepaid account card having an encrypted number which allows a set value corresponding to a monthly access fee to be added to a prepaid subscriber account balance by entering the encrypted number into the prepaid subscriber's cellular radiotelephone.

A method of cellular telecommunications comprising the steps of:

• establishing a prepaid subscriber account balance linked to a predetermined cellular telephone number assigned to a subscriber;
• writing the established prepaid subscriber account balance to a database;
• initiating a cellular telecommunications event by calling a subscriber's cellular telephone number;
• receiving the subscriber's cellular telephone number at a cellular switch from a local exchange carrier, the cellular switch recognizing the subscriber's cellular telephone number as belonging to a pre-paid subscriber;
• sending a first signal from the cellular switch indicating readiness to receive digits comprising the subscriber's cellular telephone number that was called;
• receiving the first signal at the local exchange carrier and sending a multi-frequency digit string comprising at least a portion of the subscriber's cellular telephone number to the cellular switch;
• receiving the multi-frequency digit string at the cellular switch and accessing a host computer which is in communication with the subscriber database;
• validating existence of a pre-determined subscriber account balance in the subscriber database that is not subject to any current restrictions based upon the time of day of the telecommunications event;
• establishing communications between the host computer and the cellular carrier to obtain an available telecommunications line and out pulsing the called subscriber's cellular telephone number only if an affirmative validation at step (h) occurs;
• checking for a connection with the subscriber's cellular telephone number and, upon occurrence thereof, decrementing the subscriber account balance at regular intervals during the telecommunications event until there is a disconnection with the subscriber's cellular telephone number;
• and
• disconnecting the telecommunications event at the host computer upon occurrence of a negative validation at step (h) or a disconnection condition at step (j).