Patent ID: 7356328

Claim:
A wireless communication system providing interactive voice response for prepaid wireless services, the system comprising: a mobile switching system, adapted to communicate with at least one wireless device, capable of establishing a control channel and a voice channel with the wireless device; a Service Control Point (â€œSCPâ€) in communication with the mobile switching system, the SCP including an Interactive Voice Response (â€œIVRâ€) application for prepaid customers, and capable of retrieving customer information; an Intelligent Peripheral in communication with the SCP and the mobile switching system, the Intelligent Peripheral including IVR messages and adapted to send those messages through a voice channel to the mobile switching system; wherein the mobile switching system communicates with the SCP and wherein the SCP communicates with the Intelligent Peripheral; wherein the SCP commands the Intelligent Peripheral to play one or more of the IVR messages in accordance with a prompt level selection received from a customer of the prepaid customers, the prompt level selection specifying at least one of a message frequency or a message content for the one or more messages, the prompt level selection including at least a first option specifying a maximum number of prompts and a second option specifying a minimum number of prompts; the first option causing the customer to hear a series of announcements when the customer originates a call, and providing the customer with an option of listening to the series of announcements every time the customer receives an incoming call; the second option causing the customer to hear one or more announcements if an account balance associated with the customer falls below a predetermined level, wherein the predetermined level is defined with reference to at least one of a monetary amount or an amount of time; and wherein the wireless communication system is adapted to accept an incoming call from a calling party placed using a predetermined dialed number shorter than seven digits.