Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Usage measurement
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-18
2001-03-13
Hunter, Daniel S. (Department: 2749)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Usage measurement
C455S407000, C455S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201957
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless calling services, and more particularly to a system and method for implementing a flexible rate plan for wireless service customers.
2. Related Art
The advent of wireless personal communications devices has revolutionized the telecommunications industry. Cellular and PCS services provide wireless personal communications to businesses and individuals at home, in the office and on the road. Wireless telephone subscribers no longer have to stop at pay telephones along the road, or wait until they return home or to the office. Instead, wireless subscribers carry out their day to day business from their cars, from the jobsite, while walking along the airport concourse, and just about anywhere their signals are accessible.
Thus, it is no surprise that since the introduction of the cellular telephone service, the number of wireless telephone subscribers has increased steadily. Today, the number of wireless telephone subscribers is staggering. However, there still remains an unpenetrated market of potential wireless customers. Additionally, even with current wireless customers, the wireless carriers'market share could be increased. Most wireless carriers charge a flat rate per minute per customer within a BTA or local region, regardless of the actual calling locations within that local region. Generally speaking, that rate is higher than the rate charged by the customer's local landline carrier. As such, the wireless customer tends to use his or her landline service when making calls from the home or office.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a system and method for providing one or more tiers of alternative rates or rate plans to wireless telephone subscribers. According to the invention, one or more home regions are defined, preferably within the wireless subscriber's local calling area, in which the subscriber can make and receive wireless calls at reduced service rates. The one or more home regions can be defined as a region in proximity with the subscriber's home, office, or other location. In one embodiment, the home region is defined by the area of coverage provided by, for example, one or more cell sites for cellular service or cell-site equivalent in other communications formats. Thus, parameters such as, for example, a base station I.D., sector I.D., or pilot offset, can be used to define the home region as well as identify whether the subscriber is currently in the home region.
Additionally, a second tier of reduced rate services can be provided in another region referred to as the home-perimeter region. The home-perimeter region, in one embodiment, is a subset of the home region, and preferably covers an area somewhat equivalent to the area covered by the subscriber's conventional land line services. As such, the subscriber can make wireless calls in or near his or her home, office, or other location at rates competitive to those offered by land line service providers.
In alternative embodiments, the home area can be different from that covered by the subscriber's conventional land line services. In one embodiment, the home-perimeter region is implemented by allowing the subscriber to use the same equipment or similar equipment to conventional land line equipment, and interface this equipment to the wireless service provider's network.
One advantage of the invention is that wireless service providers can offer rate plans to subscribers that are competitive with those offered by conventional land line services. As a result, when the subscriber is in his or her home-perimeter region, the subscriber may be more motivated or less hesitant to use the wireless service provider to initiate a phone call. Thus, a wireless service provider can increase its market within its existing customer base.
Another advantage of the invention is that interface equipment can be provided such that the subscriber can use conventional land line-type telephone equipment (i.e., conventional cordless or corded telephones) to interface to the wireless service provider in his or her home-perimeter region. As such, the wireless service provider can allow the subscriber to take advantage of the competitive home-perimeter region rates without the subscriber having to invest in substantial amounts of new equipment.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that it allows subscribers to define a home region in which reduced service rates can be provided to a subscriber to further entice the subscriber to use the wireless services when the subscriber is near his or her home, office, or other location. These areas may, for example, be the areas in which the subscriber may put off placing a call until he or she reaches home. However, having a reduced rate within the home region allows the subscriber to make calls within the home region that are at rates that are competitive with or, perhaps, only slightly increased above those of land line service rates. Although any rate plan can be implemented, one example plan is that in which home region rates are less than the wireless carrier's local calling area rates but still greater than the land line service provider's rates, while home-perimeter region rates are extremely competitive with those of land line rates. Such a plan gives the subscriber incentive to use the wireless service provider while at home or in the office or at another home-perimeter location, as well as increased incentive to use the wireless service provider while in his or her home region. As such, the carriers can anticipate an increase in usage by the subscribers because they are more likely to utilize the wireless services in their home region and home-perimeter regions.
Further features and advantages of the invention as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Chung Jong T.
Chung Yeong Jee
Son William Y.
Hunter Daniel S.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Neopoint, Inc.
Nguyen Thuan T.
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