Prepaid security cellular telecommunications system

Abstract

A cellular telecommunications system having a security feature which allows only pre-authorized users to complete cellular telephone calls. The system and method recognizes a cellular radiotelephone's pre-programmed and pre-selected telephone number and an automated number identification code (ANI). The pre-selected telephone number is reserved to the pre-paid cellular telecommunications system. The cellular radiotelephone transmits the ANI and a dialed number identification system code (DNIS) to a cellular switch, which contacts a host computer for call validation by the pre-paid service provider. This system also allows pre-authorized users to receive and pay for incoming calls as well as purchase additional airtime and monthly access fees with convenient pre-paid cards.

1 . A method, performed at a wireless service provider, of managing preauthorized telecommunications service, the method comprising: 
 receiving, at the wireless service provider, user input corresponding to information obtained from a vended media that represents a specific, predetermined level of credit; and    modifying, at the wireless service provider, accounting data in account based on the user input, wherein modification of the account comprises increasing credit available for wireless telecommunications service by the predetermined level of credit.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the accounting data is modified in response to receipt of a single transmission sequence from a wireless communications device.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  in which the transmission sequence is delimited by entry of a transmit command on a wireless communications device.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  in which entry of the transmit command comprises pressing a “send” key on a keypad of the wireless communications device.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving, at the wireless service provider, a static identifier of a wireless communications device.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  in which the static identifier comprises an automated number identifier (ANI) or an electronic serial number (ESN) or both.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising transmitting the static identifier with the user input in a manner that is transparent to a user of the wireless communications device.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  in which the user input corresponds to information obtained from a prepaid wireless telecommunications card.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to receipt of the user input at the wireless service provider, receiving the user input from the wireless communications device at a wireless telecommunications center and passing it on to the wireless service provider.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving, at the wireless service provider, an identifier of an account of the user of a wireless communications device.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the user input comprises an alpha/numeric value that includes a checksum.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  in which the account is associated with a wireless communications device and is located based on an identifier of the wireless communications device.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  in which the identifier is an ANI.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  in which the identifier is an ESN.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  in which the identifier is transmitted to the wireless service provider transparently to the user of the wireless communications device.  
   
   
       16 . A method of managing preauthorized telecommunications service, the method comprising: 
 receiving information comprising an identifier and user input, obtained from a vended medium, that comprises information other than a destination number (DNIS) and that represents a specific, predetermined level of credit;    routing the identifier to a wireless service provider; and    modifying an account at the wireless service provider based on the user input and the identifier.    
   
   
       17 . A wireless telecommunications system, comprising, in combination: 
 (a) a plurality of wireless radiotelephones each having a predetermined subscriber telephone number;    (b) at least one public switched telephone network;    (c) at least one wireless carrier;    (d) at least one wireless switch in communication with at least one public switched telephone network;    (e) at least one host computer in communication with said at least one wireless switch;    (f) a processor resident in the wireless switch for receiving signals from both the at least one public switched telephone network and the wireless carrier and sending signals to both the at least one public switched telephone network and wireless carrier; and    (g) a processor resident in the at least one host computer that accepts and evaluates a subscriber database comprising a plurality of records representing subscribers to the wireless telecommunications system and including pre-paid account balance information for each subscriber, wherein the host computer receives an alpha-numeric value corresponding to a set value of airtime to be added to a prepaid subscriber account balance, the alpha-numeric value allowing a set value of air time to be added to the prepaid subscriber account balance.    
   
   
       18 . The wireless telecommunication system of  claim 1  wherein the subscriber database further comprises activation and deactivation times for subscribers' telephone numbers.  
   
   
       19 . The wireless telecommunications system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one host computer communicates over a local area network.  
   
   
       20 . The wireless telecommunications system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one host computer communicates over a wide area network.  
   
   
       21 . The wireless telecommunications system of  claim 18  wherein the subscriber database connected to the at least one host computer is resident on a redundant array of independent devices operably associated with and readable and writable by the at least one host computer.  
   
   
       22 . The wireless telecommunications system of  claim 18  wherein the processor resident in the at least one host computer outputs adjusted subscriber account balance information upon completion of a telecommunications event with the dialed number and writes the adjusted subscriber account balance information to the subscriber database thereby updating the subscriber database with the adjusted subscriber account balance information.  
   
   
       23 . The wireless telecommunication system of  claim 17  wherein the public switched telephone network comprises at least one local exchange carrier that communicates with the at least one wireless switch and at least one host computer over land based telecommunication lines.  
   
   
       24 . The telecommunication system of  claim 17  wherein the at least one host computer further includes a memory which is used to unload subscriber account information into the memory from the subscriber database, which subscriber account information is decremented in memory during a telecommunications event upon connection with a dialed number.