Prepayment method utilizing credit information stored in mobile terminals for accessing wireless telecommunication networks

Abstract

A method of providing prepaid access to wireless telecommunication networks by utilizing a mechanism to store subscriber credit information within a mobile terminal is disclosed. The method is especially suitable for subscribers that roam into visiting networks that have the capability of accessing the credit information. In an embodiment of the invention, the method includes transmitting the previously stored subscriber credit information from the mobile terminal to a network's prepayment node during registration. The subscriber credit information, which may include a prepaid credit balance in dollars, is transmitted via the Over-the-Air-Teleservice (OATS) function as specified in the IS-136 standard. When a call is placed, the cost of the call, based on the current tariff rate, is calculated by the prepayment node and deducted from the initially received credit balance to determine an updated credit balance. The updated credit balance is transmitted via OATS to the mobile terminal for storage therein. The updated credit balance then becomes available to be retrieved by any compatible network that has the capability of utilizing the credit information.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.