Method for transmitting voice or data in a wireless network depending on billing account status

In a wireless radio network having a voice channel for transmitting voice information and a control channel for transmitting control information that manages access to and use of the voice channel, a method of allocating a voice channel to a radiotelephone, comprising:

• a) transmitting a control message from the radiotelephone over the control channel, the control message comprising:
• i) a mobile identification number (MIN) uniquely identifying the radiotelephone;
• ii) a sequence of digits specifying a remote feature control request that invokes the forwarding of the sequence of digits by a serving mobile switching center (MSC) upon detecting the remote feature control request, and billing account information associated with the radiotelephone identified by the MIN;
• b) receiving the control message the MSC;
• c) decoding the control message and detecting the MIN and the remote feature control request;
• d) forwarding the remote feature control request and the billing account information to a central monitoring station (CMS) associated with the MIN upon detecting the remote feature control request;
• e) analyzing the billing account information associated with the MIN;
• and
• f) sending an approval message to the serving MSC if the billing account information indicates the billing account is in good standing.

In a wireless radio network having a voice channel for transmitting voice information and a control channel for transmitting control information that manages access to and use of the voice channel, a method for transmitting data related to a specific application from a radiotelephone to a central monitoring station over the control channel, comprising:

• a) transmitting a control message from the radiotelephone over the control channel, the control message comprising a mobile identification number (MIN) uniquely identifying the radiotelephone and a sequence of digits specifying a remote feature control request that invokes the forwarding of the sequence of digits by a serving mobile switching center (MSC) upon detecting the remote feature control request, billing account information associated with the radiotelephone identified by the MIN, and data related to a specific application;
• b) receiving the control message at a serving mobile switching center (MSC);
• c) decoding the control message and detecting the MIN and the remote feature control request;
• d) forwarding the remote feature control request, the billing account information, and the data related to a specific application to a central monitoring station (CMS) associated with the MIN upon detecting the remote feature control request;
• e) analyzing the billing account information associated with the MIN;
• and
• f) sending a data related to a specific application to an application specific CMS if the billing account information indicates the billing account is not in good standing.

In a cellular mobile radio network having a voice channel for transmitting voice information and a control channel for transmitting control information that manages access to and use of the voice channel, a method of allocating a voice channel to a cellular mobile radiotelephone, comprising:

• a) transmitting a call origination message from the radiotelephone over the control channel, the call origination message comprising:
• i) a mobile identification number (MIN) identifying the radiotelephone;
• ii) a count in a dialed digits field of the call origination message, the count indicating time elapsed for a previous call by the radiotelephone;
• b) receiving the call origination message at the MSC;
• c) forwarding the contents of the dialed digits field, comprising the count, to a central monitoring station (CMS) associated with the MIN;
• d) comparing the count with a prepaid time associated with the MIN at the CMS;
• and
• e) sending an approval message from the CMS to the serving MSC if the prepaid time is greater than the count.