Patent ID: 7454200
Filing Date: 2008-11-18
Classification: H04M,H04W

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a prepay telephone service system component; and a personal handyphone system service switch center of a personal handyphone system; wherein the personal handyphone system service switch center comprises service switching point software for generation and interpretation of intelligent network application protocol messages; wherein the personal handyphone system service switch center employs the service switching point software to exchange intelligent network application protocol messages with the prepay telephone service system component; wherein the personal handyphone system service switch center employs the prepay telephone service system component to allow a user of a wireless telephone to execute a purchase of one or more units of wireless telephone service, wherein the personal handyphone system service switch center employs the prepay telephone service system component to allow the user to employ one or more of the one or more units of wireless telephone service with the wireless telephone subsequent to the purchase; wherein the personal handyphone system service switch center comprises a trusted third party component configured to authenticate the user of the wireless telephone through employment of an authentication technique that relies on a source outside the personal handyphone system; wherein the prepay telephone service system component stores account information for the user of the wireless telephone, wherein the account information comprises an account balance for the user of the wireless telephone, wherein the account balance is based on the one or more units of wireless telephone service; wherein upon initiation by the user of a request to place a wireless telephone call with the wireless telephone the personal handyphone system service switch center receives the request and initiates a query of the prepay telephone service system component, wherein in response to the query the prepay telephone service system component returns to the personal handyphone system service switch center a reply that comprises the account balance for the user of the wireless telephone; wherein upon determination by the personal handyphone system service switch center that the account balance is above a preselected threshold the personal handyphone system service switch center allows the user to place the wireless telephone call with the wireless telephone.