Advanced air time management
August 28, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesCompetitive game Wireless telephone service subscription data user access method User assisted fraud detection in a cellular communications system System and method for establishing and managing subscription purchase agreements including commitments to purchase goods over time at agreed upon prices Method and system for preventing unjust use of personal communication terminal Cellular system having programmable subscription capabilities Method and arrangement for limiting the use of a mobile telephone Arrangement system and method relating to telecommunications access and control On demand real time telephone billing equipment Method and system to meter and control usage of telephone systems Patent #: 6246756 InventorsApplicationNo. 648776 filed on 08/28/2000US Classes:455/405, Usage measurement455/406, Billing455/418Programming controlExaminersPrimary: Hunter, Daniel S.Assistant: Chow, C. Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassH04M 011/00AbstractA system and method of communications usage management for multiple networked devices such as cellular telephones in a telecommunications network. A management database is provided for storing communications attributes for at least one networked device. The stored communications usage attributes serve as criteria for regulating access of the networked devices to the system. The users of the devices may purchase a quantity of transferable units, such as usage minutes over the system network, with the units being redeemable for goods and/or services on the system, thus facilitating transfer of units between users. A user interface is provided as a system management device for accessing the management database to configure the communications usage attributes for defining the transfer and usage criteria. Communications usage software operable with the network devices computes usage times to provide an accounting of usage and regulation in accordance with the management database. In the described embodiment, short message service (SMS) traffic is used for messages between networked devices used by several users to purchase quantities of redeemable units for exchange, commercial activities, or recreation which may be facilitated through the system operator.Field of SearchUsage measurementBilling Programming control Security or fraud prevention At subscriber unit Privacy, lock-out, or authentication Including personal numbering system (i.e., intelligent network for subscriber tracking or follow-me subscriber feature) Ground station control RADIOTELEPHONE SYSTEM Switching or routing Personal identification Dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) receiver Electronic (e.g., tone generator) | |
