Abstract:
A no-charge transaction service method and apparatus for prepaid cellular telephones is provided which utilizes a prepaid cellular telephone in conjunction with a wireless intelligent network coupled to a prepaid cellular service provider. The user enters a short code to indicate a top-up request or other transaction request along with payment information into the prepaid cellular telephone using the alphanumeric keypad. The call data is transmitted to the wireless network which identifies the call and transfers the information to the prepaid cellular service provider. The prepaid cellular service provider identifies the transaction type, validates the call data and sends a verification message to the prepaid cellular telephone and other associated equipment, if any, via short message service, push to talk service, or other means without completing the originating call.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to communications networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for no-charge transaction services for prepaid cellular telephones. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the past, switches or other elements of a communication (or telecommunication) network that route calls from one location to another, governed and provided special telecommunications services. Such switches or other elements are usually at least part of a “serving system” that provides service for multiple subscribers (typically in a given area). In a wireless intelligent network (WIN), each serving system includes a switch often referred to as a mobile switching center (MSC) as well as a signal transfer point (STP) and a service control point (SCP). STPs are the packet switches of the network which receive and route incoming signaling information towards the proper destination, and perform other routing functions. SCPs are databases that provide information necessary for advanced call-processing capabilities. The serving system also includes a home location register (HLR) that defines the services and features authorized for use by the subscriber. 
         [0003]    A mobile subscriber communicates with the MSC through a base station, which provides an air interface for the mobile subscriber. The MSC connects to the HLR and the SCP through the signaling system 7 (SS7) and STP networks in order to access information about the subscriber. When a mobile subscriber operates in a given serving system, the serving system engages in signaling communication with the HLR in the subscriber&#39;s home system to notify the HLR where the subscriber is located and to obtain the subscriber&#39;s current profile. The serving system may also include a subscriber profile database referred to as a visitor location register (VLR), which stores a temporary copy of a subscriber&#39;s profile obtained from the HLR. The MSC may also access the VLR to obtain information about the subscriber. 
         [0004]    For a prepaid cellular telephone, the subscriber has an account with a prepaid cellular phone company. The subscriber may use the cellular telephone as long as there are sufficient funds in his or her account. To add additional funds to or “top-up” his/her account, the subscriber must call a customer service number, typically an 800 number, and provide calling card or credit card information to the customer service representative. The cost for placing this call is paid by the prepaid cellular phone company and passed on to the subscriber. Thus the subscriber does not get the full benefit of the available funds for making phone calls. This can become a burdensome and an inefficient manner of providing top-up services. Additionally, if the subscriber wishes to purchase an item using the prepaid cellular phone, the subscriber is charged for the phone call. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    To facilitate topping-up a prepaid cellular phone account without incurring administrative costs associated with the call, the present invention provides a method and system for facilitating the top-up service of a prepaid cellular telephone plan. The method may be performed in a communications network in conjunction with a prepaid cellular phone service provider. When a cellular phone is initially turned on, it searches for a signal from a cellular tower. If more than one signal is found, typically the strongest signal is chosen and an available channel selected. On the reverse control path, the cellular phone identifies itself by sending its phone number, electronic serial number and home system identification (SID) number. If the home SID is not the SID of the receiving MSC, the MSC first checks to determine if the information is stored locally in the VLR. If there is no match, the information is routed through the signaling system 7 (SS7) network to the appropriate home system HLR. The HLR retrieves the account information and returns it to the requesting MSC which temporarily stores the information in the VLR. 
         [0006]    In one aspect, the method includes dialing a predefined feature code followed by a sequence of numbers such as a prepaid card number, pin and phone number to be credited, from a prepaid cellular phone. The dialed feature code and sequence is received by the MSC. The MSC recognizes the call as originating from a prepaid cellular phone and retrieves the account information from the VLR. The MSC sends the dialed digits along with the account information to the SCP operated by the prepaid cellular phone company, through the SS7 and STP networks. The SCP and STP are customarily deployed in pairs. The individual SCPs and STPs are not generally co-located and work redundantly to perform the same functions. 
         [0007]    The feature code and sequence of digits are parsed by the SCP to separate out the dialed numbers. Because this is a prepaid cellular phone, all account information is stored in the SCP or enhanced STP gateway. The SCP validates the card number and pin against a database containing valid card information and retrieves the stored value for the card. The SCP verifies that the phone to credit is a valid prepaid cellular phone and sends a text message utilizing short message service (SMS) or a voice message utilizing push-to-talk (PTT), for example, to the phone to confirm or cancel the transaction. If any of the information is not validated by the SCP, a call is placed directly to a problem-specific customer service representative with the prepaid cellular phone company to address the issue. 
         [0008]    The present invention may be applied in various network arrangements where a prepaid cellular phone is utilized. These as well as other features and advantages will be come apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a top-up request of the prepaid wireless transaction service. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of item purchase application of the prepaid wireless transaction service. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a simplified functional block diagram of a vending machine application of the prepaid wireless transaction service. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a simplified block diagram of a wireless intelligent network (WIN)  10  in which an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be employed is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 1 , WIN  10  includes cellular towers  12 ,  14  and  16  each connected to a base station controller (BSC)  18 . The cellular tower  12  can determine the direction of a cell phone  20  relative to the tower  12  as well as the distance from the tower by the power of the cell phone signal  22 . The BSC  14  determines when a cell phone  20  is about to leave a cell  24  and notifies the mobile switching center (MSC)  26  as to the direction of travel of the cell phone  20 . The MSC  26  sets up the next cell tower (tower  14  for example) through the associated BSC  18 . The MSC  26  instructs the cell phone  20 , through the BSC  18  and cellular tower  12 , to change frequency which is then picked up by the new cellular tower  14 . 
         [0013]    In a WIN  10 , a mobile subscriber communicates by activating a cell phone  20 . The cell phone  20  broadcasts a signal  22  which is received by a cellular tower  12 . The cellular tower  12  sends the received signal to the BCS  18  which routes the information to the MSC  26 . The MSC  26  connects to a home location register (HLR) database  28  and a service control point (SCP)  30  through the signaling system 7 (SS7) network  31  and a signaling transfer point (STP)  32  network in order to access information about the subscriber. The HLR database  28  defines the services and features authorized for use by the subscriber. When a cell phone  20  is roaming, the MSC  26  receives the cellular phone identification information and thus classifies the phone as a roaming phone since the phone is not included in its HLR database  28 . The MSC  26  communicates with the home MSC  36  of the roaming phone through the WIN  10 , authenticates the phone usage, and updates the HLR database  38  at the home location with the new location information for the roaming cellular phone. The MSC  26  registers the roaming phone identification information temporarily in its visitor location register (VLR)  34 . 
         [0014]    In an exemplary prepaid cellular transaction system, a user with a prepaid cellular phone  20  purchases a phone card  40  from a reseller, for example. The card  40  includes an activation number and a pin under a scratch-off label. The user dials a short code such as “##” followed by the card number and pin, and presses the send button on the cellular phone  20 . The short code and digits are transmitted  22  to cell tower  12 . The information is received by the BSC  18  and sent to the MSC  26 . The MSC  26  recognizes the call as originating from a prepaid phone and retrieves the account information corresponding to the cellular phone  20  from the VLR  34 . The MSC  26  then routes the call through the SS7 network  31  to the STP  32 . The STP  32  forwards the dialed digits and account information to the SCP  30  which is operated by a prepaid cellular company identified by the phone. 
         [0015]    The SCP  30  is programmed to recognize the short code (“##”) as a top-up request. The dialed digits are parsed by the SCP  30  to separate out the card number, pin and cellular phone identifying information. Because this is a prepaid phone  20 , all account information is stored in the SCP  30 . The SCP  30  validates the card number and pin against a database  42  containing valid card data and retrieves the stored value for the card. The SCP  30  verifies that the cellular phone is a valid prepaid phone from an accounts database  44 . The SCP  30  sends a text or SMS message to the cellular phone  20  to confirm or cancel the transaction via a Short Message Service Center (SMSC)  46  or Push to Talk (PTT)  48 . 
         [0016]    An SMS is a wireless service that enables the transmission of alphanumeric messages between mobile subscribers and external systems such as email, voice mail systems and paging. Point-to-point SMS provides a mechanism for transmitting short messages to and from wireless handsets. The SMSC  46  acts as a store-and-forward system for short messages and is responsible for relaying a short message from the SCP  30  (or other short messaging entity) to the wireless handset. The wireless network including SS7  31  and MSC  26  provide the transport of short messages between the SMSC  46  and handset  20 . 
         [0017]    PTT is a feature that is available on some mobile phone models which allows the mobile phone, when in a special mode, to function as a digital two-way radio in push-to-talk operation. Only one person at a time can talk, by pressing a PTT button on the mobile phone, and one or several others can listen instantly. The service connects mobile phone users with each other within seconds. Currently, PTT users have to belong to the same mobile operator&#39;s (service provider&#39;s or carrier&#39;s) network in order to talk to one another. The evolution of the standards will make such interconnection possible in the near future. The PTT service commonly does not use up the regular airtime minutes that are used for general voice calls. 
         [0018]    In accordance with the SS7 protocol, because the originating call was never completed through the network, the call is not charged against the prepaid phone account. 
         [0019]    If the SCP  30  is unable to validate the card number or pin, the SCP  30  may send a SMS message to the cellular phone to reenter the card number or pin. If the SCP  30  is unable to validate the card number or pin a second time, the SCP  30  may initiate a toll-free call to connect the user to a customer service representative. The SCP  30  may include problem specific phone numbers to immediately and specifically address the error detected by the SCP and thereby shorten the call time necessary to address the problem. 
         [0020]    In a similar example of a prepaid cellular transaction system, a user with a prepaid cellular phone  20  purchases a phone card  40  from a reseller. The card  40  includes an activation number and a pin under a scratch-off label. The user dials a short code such as followed by the card number, pin and a phone-to-credit number, and presses the send button on the cellular phone  20 . The short code and digits are transmitted  22  to cell tower  12 . The information is received by the BSC  18  and sent to the MSC  26 . The MSC  26  recognizes the call as originating from a prepaid phone and retrieves the account information corresponding to the cellular phone  20  from the VLR  34 . The MSC  26  then routes the call through the SS7 network  31  to the STP  32 . The STP  32  forwards the dialed digits and account information to the SCP  30  which is operated by a prepaid cellular company identified by the phone. 
         [0021]    The SCP  30  is programmed to recognize the short code (“##”) as a top-up request. The dialed digits are parsed by the SCP  30  to separate out the card number, pin, phone-to-credit number and cellular phone identifying information. Because this is a prepaid phone  20 , all account information is stored in the SCP  30 . The SCP  30  validates the card number and pin against the database  42  containing valid card data and retrieves the stored value for the card. The SCP  30  verifies that the phone-to-credit number and cellular phone are valid prepaid phone numbers from the accounts database  44 . The SCP  30  sends a text or SMS message to the cellular phone  20  to confirm or cancel the transaction via a Short Message Service Center (SMSC)  46  or Push to Talk (PTT)  48 . Additionally, the SCP  30  may send a text or SMS message to the phone-to-credit (not shown) via the SMSC  46  or PTT  48 . 
         [0022]    In another example of a prepaid cellular transaction system, a user with a prepaid cellular phone  20  wishes to purchase an item from a merchant. The item is scanned and the price is displayed on a cash register  60 . The cash register  60  is typically connected to a network or internet  62  to receive credit card information and approval. Cash register  60  also includes a unique identifying number which is displayed for use by the user. The user dials a short code such as “**” followed by a credit card number  64 , the cash register number, and the purchase price of the item, and presses the send button on the cellular phone  20 . 
         [0023]    The short code and digits are transmitted  22  to cell tower  12 . The information is received by the BSC  18  and sent to the MSC  26 . The MSC  26  recognizes the call as originating from a prepaid phone and retrieves the account information corresponding to the cellular phone  20  from the VLR  34 . The MSC  26  then routes the call through the SS7 network  31  to the STP  32 . The STP  32  forwards the dialed digits and account information to the SCP  30  which is operated by a prepaid cellular company identified by the phone. 
         [0024]    The SCP  30  is programmed to recognize the short code (“**”) as a purchase request. The dialed digits are parsed by the SCP  30  to separate out the card number, the cash register number and amount, and cellular phone identifying information. Because this is a prepaid phone  20 , all account information is stored in the SCP  30 . The SCP  30  validates the credit card number through a known method. The SCP  30  verifies that the phone is a valid prepaid phone from the accounts database  44 . The SCP  30  sends a text or SMS message to the cellular phone  20  to confirm or cancel the transaction via the SMSC  46  or PTT (not shown). 
         [0025]    If the user confirms the purchase via a return SMS message to the SCP  30 , the SCP  30  sends a SMS message to the cash register  60  to confirm or cancel the transaction via the SMSC  46  through the internet  62 . Once the transaction is confirmed, the credit card is charged and a receipt is printed from the cash register  60 . In accordance with the SS7 protocol, because the originating call was never completed through the network, the purchase call is not charged against the prepaid phone account. 
         [0026]    It should be understood that the user may enter a credit card number, debit card number, or simply a PIN corresponding to the user&#39;s prepaid cellular phone account to purchase the item. The cash register  60  may be wirelessly enabled, connected to a local area network, or otherwise able to receive a message from the SCP  30  to complete the transaction. For a purchase request, the user may also enter the prepaid telephone number and PIN to pay for the item directly from the user&#39;s prepaid cellular phone account or from a credit card associated with the user&#39;s account. 
         [0027]    As another example of a prepaid cellular transaction system, a user may purchase an item from a network enabled vending machine  70 . The vending machine  70  includes a unique identifier so that it may be addressed by the WIN. A user with a prepaid cellular phone wishing to purchase a item from the vending machine  70  dials a short code such as “**” followed by a vending machine number, the item number, item amount, and a credit card number, and presses the send button on the cellular phone  20 . The short code and digits are transmitted  22  to cell tower  12 . The information is received by the BSC  18  and sent to the MSC  26 . The MSC  26  recognizes the call as originating from a prepaid phone and retrieves the account information corresponding to the cellular phone  20  from the VLR  34 . The MSC  26  then routes the call through the SS7 network  31  to the STP  32 . The STP  32  forwards the dialed digits and account information to the SCP  30  which is operated by a prepaid cellular company identified by the phone. 
         [0028]    The SCP  30  is programmed to recognize the short code (“**”) as a purchase request. The dialed digits are parsed by the SCP  30  to separate out the vending machine number, item number, item amount, card number and prepaid cellular phone identifying information. Because this is a prepaid phone  20 , all account information is stored in the SCP  30 . The SCP  30  validates the credit card number through a known method. The SCP  30  verifies that the phone is a valid prepaid phone from the accounts database  44 . The SCP  30  sends a text or SMS message to the cellular phone  20  to confirm or cancel the transaction via the SMSC  46  or PTT (not shown). 
         [0029]    If the user confirms the purchase via a return SMS message to the SCP  30 , the SCP  30  sends a SMS message to the vending machine  70  to confirm or cancel the transaction via the SMSC  46  through the internet  62  or wirelessly  72 . Once the transaction is confirmed, the credit card is charged and the selected item is dispensed from the vending machine. In accordance with the SS7 protocol, because the originating call was never completed through the network, the purchase call is not charged against the prepaid phone account. It should be understood that the user may enter a credit card number, debit card number, or simply a PIN corresponding to the user&#39;s prepaid cellular phone account to purchase the item. 
         [0030]    It should be understood that the short code entered may be any short code defined by the prepaid cellular telephone company to identify a top-up request or purchase request. For example, the short code could be “011##” or “011” followed by a sixteen digit credit card number and four digit expiration date. Longer codes could also be used. However, it is advantageous to use a short code to reduce the number of digits necessary to be entered and to allow more flexibility in the system. 
         [0031]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.