# US 7,466,806 B2 · Pre-paid wireless interactive voice response system with variable announcements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,466,806 B2 - Document ID: US7466806B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/861,375 - Filed: 2004-06-07 - Published: 2004-11-18 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2000-07-07 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Judith C. Espejo; Lance F. Casey; Carmen D. Andia; Judy D. Martin; Adrian C. Rudd; Susan F. Meek; Brenda L. Boyden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466806B2 ## CPC - H04M 15/72: {by the user} - H04M 3/493: Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries {; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals} - H04M 15/00: Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication {; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP} - H04M 15/44: {Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation} - H04M 15/745: {Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family} - H04M 15/83: {Notification aspects} - H04M 15/84: {Types of notifications} - H04M 15/842: {Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue} - H04M 15/844: {Message, e.g. SMS} - H04M 17/00: Prepayment {of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or} telephone systems (using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675) - H04M 2215/0104: Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing - H04M 2215/0108: Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS] - H04M 2215/0168: On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber - H04M 2215/32: Involving wireless systems - H04M 2215/7036: Administer via user - H04M 2215/81: Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user - H04M 2215/8129: Type of notification - H04M 2215/8133: Announcement, e.g. IVR dialogue, intelligent peripheral or switch - H04M 2215/8137: Message, e.g. alphanumeric text, SMS, MMS, EMS or www-based messaging service - H04M 2215/82: Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A wireless communications system providing interactive voice response is disclosed. The system is menu driven, and can accept information as well as deliver information to the customer in the form of prompts or prompt information. The system includes provisions that permit customers to vary the prompt information. In prompt information can be varied in a number ways, including the method of delivery, the content, pre or post-call prompts, and the frequency in which the prompt information is delivered. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating an interactive voice response system for pre-paid wireless service, comprising: communicating between a peripheral device and a mobile switching system, the mobile switching system capable of communicating with at least one wireless device; receiving information from a customer via an IVR application comprising a menu driven system operating on the peripheral device; providing prompt information to the customer; and permitting the customer to vary the prompt information via the menu driven system to determine what prompt information is communicated to the customer when a pre-paid wireless call is made. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to vary how prompt information is delivered. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the prompt information is delivered by at least one of a voice message and a text message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to vary content of the prompt information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising permitting the customer to include at least one of current account balance, time of last incoming call, time of last outgoing call, date of last incoming call, date of last outgoing call, duration of last call, cost of last call, and information related to last replenishment in the prompt information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to select at least one of pre-call delivery and post-call delivery of the prompt information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to select frequency of delivery of the prompt information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising permitting the customer to receive the prompt information at selected intervals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, where the selected interval is based on at least one of number of calls and dollar amount. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to select delivery of the prompt information only after a threshold has been reached. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the threshold is based on at least one of an estimated number of available minutes and a remaining balance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the customer to select between at least a minimum prompt information mode and a maximum prompt information mode. ### Claim 13 A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a software application including instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for operating an interactive voice response system for pre-paid wireless service, the method comprising: communicating between a peripheral device and a mobile switching system, the mobile switching system capable of communicating with at least one wireless device; receiving information from a customer via an DIR application comprising a menu driven system operating on the peripheral device; providing prompt information to the customer; and permitting the customer to vary the prompt information via the menu driven system to determine what prompt information is communicated to the customer when a pre-paid wireless call is made. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to vary how prompt information delivered. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the prompt information is deliverable by at least one of a voice message and a text message. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to vary content of the prompt information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to include at least one of current account balance, time of last incoming call, time of last outgoing call, date of last incoming call, date of last outgoing call, duration of last call, cost of last call, and information related to last replenishment in the prompt information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to select at least one of pre-call delivery and post-call delivery of the prompt information. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to select frequency of delivery of the prompt information. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to receive the prompt information at selected intervals. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the selected interval is based on at least one of number of calls and dollar amount. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to select delivery of the prompt information only after a threshold has been reached. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the threshold is based on at least one of an estimated number of available minutes and a remaining balance. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for permitting the customer to select between at least a minimum prompt information mode and a maximum prompt information code.