Patent ID: 8670745

Claim:
A method of prepaid handling of a short message service (SMS) or multimedia messaging service (MMS) type user message for communication through a wireless network comprising steps of: receiving the SMS or MMS user message for communication through the wireless network, to or from a mobile station of a subscriber having prepaid wireless service, at a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) or a Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC) in the wireless network; sending a prepaid transaction request signaling message from the SMSC or the MMSC to a prepaid server; receiving a prepaid transaction response signaling message at the SMSC or MMSC from the prepaid server; controlling further processing of the SMS or MMS user message through the wireless network, based on data contained in the received signaling response message, and at least one of: detecting in the prepaid transaction response signaling message a policy override indicator, for indicating whether to complete communication of the SMS or MMS user message through the wireless network regardless of an applicable accounting policy; or including an exception indicator in the prepaid transaction request signaling message.