Patent ID: 6169891
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: H04M,H04W

Abstract:
A method for billing wireless telephone calls, the method comprising the steps of: signaling a call service provider that a caller will pay for an airtime charge for a call to a wireless telephone station; collecting a wireless telephone station number and a calling party account to be billed for the airtime charge for the call; determining whether the calling party account is valid; terminating the call when the calling party account is determined to be not valid; accessing a mobile switching center when the calling party account is determined to be valid; signaling a mobile switching center that the calling party will assume the airtime charge for the call; marking a mobile switching center record to indicate that a called party account associated with the wireless telephone station is not to be billed; completing connection of the call to the wireless telephone station; timing a duration of the call; transferring duration information for the call to the calling party account that is to be billed for the airtime charge; sending the mobile switching center record to the calling party account that is to be billed for the airtime charge; generating a bill for the caller that includes a long distance charge and the airtime charge; and remitting the airtime charge billed to a service provider providing wireless telephone service to the wireless telephone.