Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Programming control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-17
2002-11-19
Maung, Nay (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Programming control
C455S558000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484026
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for clearing a mobile telephone Subscribe-Identify Module (SIM) card for a mobile telephone customer for a performance parameter or for changing a performance parameter for which the SIM card is cleared.
The invention furthermore relates to a device to execute a process for clearing a mobile telephone Subscribe-Identify Module (SIM) card for a mobile telephone customer for a performance parameter or for changing a performance parameter for which the SIM card is cleared, whereby the customer can dial this device via a terminal.
Such processes and devices are known in prior art in various embodiments. If a mobile telephone customer wants to use a mobile telephone in a mobile telephone network, he must first acquire a mobile telephone and a SIM card. The SIM card has a small memory chip on which [information] can be stored, for example, the card number of the SIM card, information to identify the customer and several names with dial numbers. To be able to operate the mobile telephone in the mobile telephone network, the SIM card must first by cleared by a mobile telephone network operator. In the context of this clearance, the SIM card is assigned to a specific customer, the customer's address and banking information is stored with the mobile telephone network operator, the customer's creditworthiness is verified, the performance parameters desired by the customer (tariff, roaming, connection itemization in the invoice, etc.) are determined and a mobile telephone number by which the customer can subsequently be reached in the mobile telephone network is assigned to the SIM card. If the SIM card is inserted into the mobile telephone, the customer can call from the mobile telephone and receive calls via his mobile telephone number.
According to the known process, clearance of the SIM card is typically executed in the following steps. First, the customer completes a mobile telephone agreement with a dealer and signs it. The agreement contains information on the customer's identification, address and banking information. The mobile telephone agreement also includes the card number of a SIM card, which is to be cleared for the customer. Furthermore, a mobile telephone number is indicated, which is to be assigned to the SIM card and under which the customer can subsequently be reached in the mobile telephone network. Finally, the performance parameters desired by the customer are determined in the agreement. The completed agreement is then forwarded to the mobile telephone network operator, typically via fax. There, the information is manually stored by the network operator's personnel, the customer's creditworthiness is verified, the specified dial number is assigned to the SIM card and the SIM card is cleared for the desired performance parameters. The mobile telephone network operator typically requires one to two business days to complete these transactions to clear the SIM card. Significantly faster clearance of a SIM card would be advantageous, however.
The clearance of SIM cards and the changing of the performance parameters of the mobile telephone agreements with the mobile telephone network operator should take as little time as possible. For this purpose the network operator has to reserve a certain number of employees, which constitutes a considerable cost factor.
The process for clearing a mobile telephone SIM card according to prior art is not carried out directly by the mobile telephone network operator but via one or several dealers each of which receives a commission for contract signature. As a result, the costs for entering into a mobile telephone agreement are quite high.
On the other hand, the direct sale of mobile telephone agreements by the mobile telephone network operators via their own dealer network would be very complex and at least as expensive as the sale via one or several external dealers since their own dealer network would typically first have to be set up. Thus, the direct sale by the mobile telephone network operator via its own dealer network would not be apt to reduce the costs for concluding a mobile telephone agreement.
The interposition of several dealers bars the mobile telephone network operator from direct access to the customer. Thus, marketing campaigns on the part of the mobile telephone network operator must take the circuitous route through one or several dealers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Based on the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art, one object of the present invention is to design and further develop a process of the initially mentioned type, which will accelerate the clearance of SIM cards, reduce the costs for clearance and provide the mobile telephone network operators direct access to their customers without significant additional complexity or costs.
To attain this object, the invention proposes a process of the initially mentioned type characterized by the following steps:
dialing a communications network by the customer via a terminal,
establishing a connection to the communications network,
determining the customer's identity,
going through a computer-assisted dialog comprising at least the determination of the card number of the SIM card,
transmitting the customer's identity, the card number of the SIM card and the performance parameter to a mobile telephone network operator via a data transmission connection, and
entering the transmitted data into a database of the network operator.
The process according to the invention assumes that the mobile telephone network operators will bring the SIM cards into circulation free of charge. This could be done, for example, within the context of a marketing campaign or through newspaper inserts.
The process according to the invention puts a potential customer into the position of being able to clear a received SIM card for specific services or performance parameters independently without the intermediation of dealers. Likewise, the process according to the invention permits the customer independently to change the established services or performance parameters at any time.
This is made possible in that the potential customer dials a communications network via his terminal. This communications network preferably has a central component, which controls certain network functions of the communications network. In communications technology such a communications network is also known as an intelligent network. The terminal is preferably embodied as a telephone or as a computer. The communications network can be dialed via a telephone network or via a computer network. The computer network is preferably embodied as the Internet. If the communications network is embodied as an intelligent network, the central component within the communications network is dialed via the terminal and a connection to the central component is established. To be able to dial the intelligent network via a computer network, the communications network must have a computer that is integrated with the computer network. The intelligent network is then accessed by calling up the Internet address of the computer of the communications network.
To dial the communications network, the potential customer either selects a communications network telephone number or the address of the communications network computer. After the connection to the communications network has been established, the identity of the potential customer is first determined. Then, a computer-assisted dialog is gone through. As a minimum, the card number of the SIM card is determined in the context of this dialog. It is feasible, however, that the communications network also receives any other information within the context of the computer-assisted dialog. Subsequently, the customer's identity, the SIM card number and the performance parameter are transmitted via a data transmission connection to the mobile telephone network operator. Finally, the transmitted data is stored in a database of the network operator.
The process acco
Alcatel
Maung Nay
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Vuong Quochien B.
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