Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Usage measurement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-10
2002-08-13
Trost, William (Department: 2746)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Usage measurement
C455S407000, C379S114150, C379S114200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06434379
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a process for dynamic management of a subscription for a terminal in “prepaid” mode.
2. State of Prior Art
This invention relates to a process for dynamic management of subscriptions in prepaid mode in a telecommunications network, within the framework of paying services.
The domain of the invention is telecommunications networks with mobile phones (for example CTM, DECT) and more generally any system accepting remote charging by the handset.
The invention does not claim the concept of prepaid services or cards, or the use of the intelligent network for implementing the service itself, but rather an innovative process for creating a “subscription” making use of information obtained with prepaid cards purchased by the customer, through the creation of a customer account which is actually a subscription number.
A prepaid card enables its bearer to receive a service from a service provider, the payment for this service being made in advance when the card is purchased.
A distinction has to be made between a virtual prepaid card and a non-virtual prepaid card. For a virtual prepaid card, all characteristics of the card, and particularly its credit, are managed by a centralized server. For a non-virtual prepaid card, the card itself contains this information. The telephone card is an example of a non-virtual prepaid card.
The invention only relates to virtual prepaid cards. Unlike non-virtual prepaid cards, which necessarily comprise a material device, there are two types of virtual prepaid cards:
cards composed of a single number; these are then immaterial virtual prepaid cards;
cards composed of a physical device; these are material virtual prepaid cards.
The use of prepaid cards has the following advantages:
A prepaid card, when used with a cordless mobile telephone, enables an operator to protect himself against unpaid bills and limit customer/information service interactions.
The billing system is simplified. The operator offers a conventional system for opening a subscription, involving the use of the information system to manage customers (open commercial file, send invoices, etc.) and a prepayment system for other customers (children, etc.).
The “Mobicarte” service (registered trademark) is an example of a rechargeable prepaid card. This is a service based on a process for which French patent applications (numbers 96 07761 and 96 07762 dated Jun. 21, 1996) have been deposited, and that uses a GSM smart card (SIM card) that gives a communications credit that can be recharged at any time and that offers a service operating in two steps:
The customer starts by purchasing a “Mobicarte” pack that contains a smart card (SIM) with thirty minutes of national communications valid for two months starting from the first call. This card is designed for the user to insert it in its telephone so that he can telephone immediately. The customer calls the Mobicarte server to determine his call number, and the card then allows the use of a telephone number for four months.
Once the communications credit has been exhausted, the customer can recharge his account using a thirty-minute “Mobicarte” “scratch card”. The service management price is included in the communications price.
In order to telephone, the customer must firstly dial the number of the voice server that manages the service (number 222). The server activates the account and all that needs to be done then is to dial the correspondent's number. A message indicates the remaining communication credit at the end of each call.
The customer must purchase a recharge in order to keep his credit. This is in the form of a “scratch card” that can be purchased in GSM sales outlets, and which will gradually become available in all tobacconists (Government approved shops). This “scratch card” comprises a fourteen-digit code to be entered on the keyboard, after connecting to the server. The effect of this simple manipulation is to credit the card with 30 minutes communication.
The “Mobicarte” is designed for use by anyone who needs a mobile telephone occasionally, for example during a voyage in France or in the case of a holiday rental. It is also suitable for anybody who would like to remain accessible, while enabling a few calls. . . . anybody who would like to remain accessible, while enabling a few calls.
With a “Mobicarte”, subscription data are created in advance in the network and are contained in the SIM card.
A document according to prior art, WO-A-96 15633, describes a system for administration of subscribers in a telecommunications network providing access to an intelligent network. This system comprises logic located at a control point in the intelligent network service and a subscribers database from a service data point associated with it by CCS signaling. Customer records in customer database are created, updated and deleted by the operator, but creation, write/read and erase functions may also be carried out through the telephone network associated with the intelligent network. The operator can activate the check without the customer being aware of it. The process thus used can be applied to the control of calls paid with a prepaid card. The user of a service then has an account code and a personal identification number (PIN). The customer call signal is directed towards the service check point using the account code as the direction key.
However, the purpose of the invention is a process for dynamic management of subscription data (in prepaid mode); creation and deletion by the database, making use of information on the “scratch card”.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention proposes a process for dynamic management of subscription data for a terminal conform with a radio standard, so that data can be downloaded through a radio channel like DECT, PHS, IS-95, CT2, in “prepaid” mode, within a telecommunications network comprising at least one server, characterized in that the customer in possession of this type of terminal acquires two numbers, for example concealed on a prepaid card and in that, when a first access to the network is made from this terminal, at least the following two steps occur:
Remote personalization request from this terminal by entering the first number (authentication code supplied with the card), followed by downloading of an identity through the network into the terminal so that the terminal can be recognized.
Call the network server for this service from the terminal that indicates its identity and the user then dials this number, and if the authentication is correct, followed by the network sending a voice message to the terminal . . . authentication is verified, and at the end of this step the network actually credits the terminal account.
Advantageously, this process is such that:
in the first step:
the network assigns a personal user identity number (IPUI) and a directory number, to this terminal,
the network sends an acknowledgment to the terminal concerning the request for access rights and containing the user identity number,
the network assigns a telephone number associated with the user identity number, in its database,
the network sets a subscription flag T to be equal to “pending remote personalization”,
in the second step:
the network receives a call from the terminal. This message contains the user identity number and the account number,
the network searches for the user identity number in the database and checks that the value of the T flag is equal to “pending”,
starting from the account number, the network searches for the authentication key and the credit associated with the account,
the network initiates a key allocation procedure,
at the end of this procedure, the network stores the user's long authentication key, the user identity number, the equipment identity number, the authentication code and the account number. These data are kept in case the remote personalization does not take place correctly,
if the authentication is correct, the network sends a voice message to the terminal indicating the new credit and the
Despres François
Hagiarian Céline
Le Fiblec Christine
France Telecom
Pearne & Gordon LLP
Tran Congvan
Trost William
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