Multi-standard prepaid communication services
View Patent ↗Calls to or from a prepaid subscriber of a wireless communication network are identified as being associated with prepaid services, and a prepaid identifier is associated with the call. The prepaid identifier and other call information such as call origin or destination is routed to a prepaid services management system in another network that determines if the call is to be authorized based on, for example, a prepaid subscriber account balance stored at the prepaid services management system. The prepaid identifier can be combined with a number associated with the call origin or destination, and the combination delivered to the prepaid services management system.
1. A method of providing prepaid services in a communication network, comprising:
directing a service request to a first mobile network;
associating the request with a prepaid subscriber based on a subscriber profile stored in the first mobile network;
requesting a service authorization for the requested service from a second mobile network; and
receiving the service authorization from the second mobile network, wherein the service authorization is associated with a selected time interval after which service authorization must be requested from the second mobile network again.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mobile network and the second mobile network are configured to conform to a first network protocol and a second network protocol, respectively.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first network protocol and the second network protocol are different.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mobile network provides a prepaid identifier to the second mobile network.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the prepaid identifier and a mobile identification number are provided to the second mobile network.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising verifying that prepaid subscriber account balance is insufficient for service authorization, and contacting the prepaid subscriber to request account balance replenishment.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the prepaid identifier identifies a prepaid subscriber group.
8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising authorizing the requested service based on a prepaid subscriber account balance stored in the second mobile network.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining a service completion status for the authorized service; and
delivering the service completion status to the prepaid system.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising assessing a service charge to the prepaid subscriber account balance based on the service completion status.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the service charge is not assessed to a prepaid subscriber account balance if the service request is directed to voice mail.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the service charge is not assessed to a prepaid subscriber account balance if the requested service is not completed.
13. A network element, comprising:
an input configured to receive a service destination identifier and a prepaid identifier;
a prepaid database configured to store prepaid account data associated with the service destination identifier; and
a processor configured to interrogate the prepaid database based on receipt of the prepaid identifier, and to authorize providing a requested service based on prepaid account data associated with the service destination, wherein the authorization for the requested serviced includes a time interval after which service authorization must be requested from the second mobile network again.
14. The network element of claim 13 , further comprising a service duration timer, wherein the processor is configure to initiate the service duration timer, and the call completion authorization is configured to expire after a selected service duration.
15. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the input is configured to communicate with a public switched telephone network.
16. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the prepaid identifier prepended to a service destination identifier and associate the requested service with a prepaid subscriber based on the prepended prepaid identifier.
17. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the prepaid identifier is “000” and is prepended to the service destination identifier.
18. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the prepaid identifier identifies a prepaid subscriber group.