Signaling system and method for network-based pre-paid wireless telephone service

Abstract

A pre-paid subscriber account system for use with wireless telephone systems is disclosed. The system, which monitors a subscriber's call, deducts the cost of the call from the subscriber's pre-paid account in real-time, warns the subscriber during a call when the account is nearing depletion, and terminates the call when the account is depleted. The system can also prevent the initiation of a new call when the account is depleted. The system and method uses signaling techniques that will allow the metering or billing of the call, along with any authorization or restrictions, to be done remotely from the actual switching of the call. Call events or chargeable events are transmitted to the pre-paid control system while the communications path of the call is held at the switching system awaiting control information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing prepaid wireless communications services using a prepaid account monitoring application at a Service Control Point (SCP) comprising: 
 receiving an origination request message from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;    sending a origination request response message to the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;    monitoring a prepaid account balance associated with the wireless device;    detecting when the prepaid account balance reaches a predetermined threshold amount;    sending a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device; and    receiving a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 determining when a call in progress should be disconnected;  
 sending a message directing the MSC to disconnect the call; and  
 receiving a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is still in progress.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.  
 
     
     
         5 . A method for providing prepaid wireless communications services using a prepaid account monitoring application that is provided by a device remote from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), comprising: 
 sending an origination request message from the MSC, the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;    receiving a origination request response message at the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;    connecting the wireless device to a called number;    receiving a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device;    playing a warning message to the wireless device; and    sending a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 receiving a message directing the MSC to disconnect a call connection for the wireless device;  
 disconnecting the call connection; and  
 sending a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 receiving a message at the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 sending a response message from the MSC indicating that said call connection is still in progress.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 receiving a message at the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 sending a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.  
 
     
     
         9 . A Service Control Point (SCP) for providing prepaid wireless communications services using a prepaid account monitoring application at the SCP, comprising: 
 means for receiving an origination request message from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;    means for sending a origination request response message to the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;    means for monitoring a prepaid account balance associated with the wireless device;    means for detecting when the prepaid account balance reaches a predetermined threshold amount;    means for sending a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device; and    means for receiving a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.    
     
     
         10 . The SCP of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 means for determining when a call in progress should be disconnected;  
 means for sending a message directing the MSC to disconnect the call; and  
 means for receiving a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.  
 
     
     
         11 . The SCP of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 means for sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 means for receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is still in progress.  
 
     
     
         12 . The SCP of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 means for sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 means for receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.  
 
     
     
         13 . A Mobile Switching Center (MSC) for providing prepaid wireless communications services using a prepaid account monitoring application that is provided by a device remote from the MSC, comprising: 
 means for sending an origination request message from the MSC, the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;    means for receiving a origination request response message at the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;    means for connecting the wireless device to a called number;    means for receiving a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device;    means for playing a warning message to the wireless device; and    means for sending a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.    
     
     
         14 . The MSC of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 means for receiving a message directing the MSC to disconnect a call connection for the wireless device;  
 means for disconnecting the call connection; and  
 means for sending a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.  
 
     
     
         15 . The MSC of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 means for receiving a message at the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 means for sending a response message from the MSC indicating that said call connection is still in progress.  
 
     
     
         16 . The MSC of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 means for receiving a message at the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 means for sending a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.  
 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product having a memory with computer code stored thereon, the computer code for providing prepaid wireless communications services, the computer program product comprising: 
 code for receiving an origination request message from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), the origination request message indicating that the MSC received a call origination indication from a wireless device;    code for sending a origination request response message to the MSC, wherein the origination request response message indicates that the MSC can establish a call using the digits provided by the wireless device;    code for monitoring a prepaid account balance associated with the wireless device;    code for detecting when the prepaid account balance reaches a predetermined threshold amount;    code for sending a balance warning message to indicate that a warning message should be played for the wireless device; and    code for receiving a notification that the warning message was played for the wireless device.    
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 code for determining when a call in progress should be disconnected;  
 code for sending a message directing the MSC to disconnect the call; and  
 code for receiving a response from the MSC indicating that the call has been disconnected.  
 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 code for sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 code for receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is still in progress.  
 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 code for sending a message to the MSC regarding a particular call connection; and  
 code for receiving a response message from the MSC indicating said call connection is disconnected.