BRPI0503637B1 - prepaid phone system and process for making a call using credits associated with a prepaid phone bill - Google Patents

Abstract

"prepaid phone system and process for making a call using credits associated with a prepaid phone account". the present invention relates to a prepaid telephone system (s), and, more specifically, a prepaid telephone system (s) where the user can use the prepaid service from any desired terminal , not related to the prepaid service contracting terminal. the system of the present invention is able to interact with voice and data call control elements of any communication network (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) through the use of application control protocols / signaling protocols specific to these networks .

Description

(54) Title: PRE-PAID TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR MAKING A CALL USING CREDITS ASSOCIATED WITH A PRE-PAID TELEPHONE ACCOUNT (51) Int.CI .: H04L 12/66; 1/67 H04M; H04M 17/00; H04W12 / 06; H04W88 / 02 (73) Holder (s): 14 BRASIL TELECOM CELULAR S.A.

(72) Inventor (s): SEBASTIÃO BOANERGES RIBEIRO JUNIOR

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Invention Patent Descriptive Report for PREPAID TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR MAKING A CALL USING CREDITS ASSOCIATED WITH A PREPAID TELEPHONE ACCOUNT.

The present invention relates to a prepaid telephone system, and, more specifically, a prepaid telephone system where the user can use the prepaid service from any desired terminal.

Background of the Invention

Various prepaid telephone systems are known in the art, such as fixed telephone systems, mobile telephone systems and systems based on calling credit cards.

The prepaid fixed telephone system covers, for example, conventional public telephones. In this system, the user acquires a telephone number corresponding to a certain monetary value for the cost of telephone calls. The call has its execution and duration conditioned to the amount represented by the card.

In prepaid mobile telephony, the user, or subscriber, purchases a cell phone and links it to a prepaid telephone account. The subscriber can then acquire calling credits corresponding to certain monetary values. The cost of each call made by that user is deducted from his credits (a process known as burning credits). When necessary, the user can purchase more credits. These credits can be acquired using encrypted cards or any other means of transferring amounts.

The basic operation of a conventional prepaid mobile phone system occurs as follows: the user initiates the call procedure using his mobile terminal (telephone device), the call request is then received by a mobile switching center (MSC or CCC ) that identifies the call as coming from a terminal associated with a prepaid phone bill. Then, the MSC communicates with a prepaid service platform, which checks the account balance of ··· ♦ · ·· · • · • · • · • 99

• * • · • · ·· • · • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · subscriber, authorizing the call or not. Once authorized, the exchange connects the subscriber to the desired service.

The first drawback found with these known prepaid telephone systems is the impossibility of making calls using a different telecommunication network than the one in which the service was contracted. Thus, in current systems, the user of a fixed network can only use one terminal of a fixed network and the user of a mobile network can only use his mobile terminal to make the call.

This inconvenience becomes even more evident for the user 10 of the mobile network, since making a call through the prepaid system is conditional on the use of the terminal (telephone set) associated with your prepaid phone bill. If this device is unavailable, the subscriber cannot take advantage of the credits already purchased for his calls.

This impossibility inherent to known prepaid systems is associated with the inability of these systems to use, simultaneously, specific protocols of the various existing communication networks.

To solve these problems, the present invention is directed to a telephone system that makes it possible to make prepaid calls from terminals not linked to the prepaid telephone bill, and even to terminals not linked to the communications network for which the prepaid service was contracted.

Objectives of the Invention

It is a first objective of the present invention to provide a prepaid telephone system capable of simultaneously interacting through specific application control protocols, with voice and data call control elements from any communication network.

It is a second objective of the present invention to provide a prepaid telephone system where it is possible to use credits from a prepaid telephone line (landline or mobile) to make calls from any other network terminals mobile or

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It is a third objective of the present invention to provide a prepaid telephone system where the burning of a subscriber's credits from a prepaid account (mobile or landline) is carried out by a communication established via protocols defined for the communication network. the terminal used to make the call independent of the terminal and the original communications network of the service contractor, such protocols being exchanged between the system and the call control elements of the communication network used to make the call.

It is a fourth objective of the present invention to provide a process for making a prepaid telephone call, where it is possible to use any communication terminal on any communication network to make calls using credits linked to a prepaid telephone account. .

Summary of the Invention

The present invention achieves these and other objectives, through a prepaid telephone system comprising: a plurality of signaling controllers connected to a plurality of communication networks, each signaling controller being responsible for controlling specific signals for each network of communication simultaneously; a credit database comprising information relating to a user's credit data and user authentication data; and a call processor in communication with the credit database and with the plurality of signaling controllers, the processor being responsible for the control and handling of calls received by the system.

The system of the present invention may further comprise an ad and digit controller in communication with the call processor and the communication networks.

The credit database may comprise, for example, information relating to the credit data of a prepaid mobile subscriber.

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A control of prepaid telephony credits in communication with the credit database and the call processor can also be added to the system to carry out control over the credit database. This control will be responsible, for example, for updating the user's balance during and after the call is made.

The system of the present invention also provides means for making credit recharges. Such means may include, for example: a web interface, a data communication interface with banking establishments and lottery houses, a communication interface with call center units and an automatic communication interface based on interactive call answering and controller units of ads and digits.

The communication networks included in the present application can be mobile telephone networks or fixed telephone networks, such as, for example: a CDMA mobile network, a GSM or UMTS mobile network, a STFC, PSTN / PSTN fixed network, a fixed VolP network (Voice over IP) and its variants.

The present invention further comprises a process for making a call using credits associated with a prepaid phone bill, which comprises the following steps:

a) receive a call request from a communication terminal that is not linked to the prepaid phone bill,

b) in response to the call request, obtain user identification information;

c) based on user identification information; authenticate the user as a subscriber to the prepaid phone bill;

d) after user authentication, access the user's credit data to verify the user's credit information;

e) based on the user's credit information, authorize the start of the call;

f) establish the connection of the call; and

g) monitor, in real time, the consumption of credits during the

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call.

It should be noted that the term subscriber refers to any user contracting a prepaid telephone service.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, steps a), c) and f) are performed by a call processor, step b) is performed by an ad and digit controller, step d) comprises accessing a database containing the user's credit information and steps e) and g) are performed by a control of prepaid phone credits in communication with the database containing the user's credit information.

Still in a preferred embodiment, the prepaid phone bill is a prepaid mobile phone account and the terminal that is not linked to a prepaid phone account is a terminal on a fixed-line network.

Brief Description of Drawings

The present invention will now be described in more detail in the light of an embodiment shown in the drawings. The figures show:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram detailing one of the modalities of the platform used to implement the system of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the logic diagram of the operation of the system call processor of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a graphical representation of one of the possible scenarios for implementing the system of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a service flow diagram illustrating an example of using the ad and digit controller used in a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the prepaid telephone system S of the present invention, which comprises: a call processor 1 in communication with a plurality of system controllers.

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«• · * ♦ nalization 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, a credit database 3, an ad controller and digits 4 and a credit controller 5. Signal controllers 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are connected to a series of communication networks 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d: a CDMA 6a mobile network, a GSM 6b mobile network, a STFC 6c fixed network and a fixed voice over IP (VolP) network 6d. Although the figure specifically illustrates these networks, it should be noted that the system of the present invention can be used with any type of communication network.

A user of the prepaid system of the present invention (for example, a subscriber to a prepaid mobile phone account) establishes a call using any terminal on any of these networks 6a, 6b, 6c or 6d. The call is received by a call element specific to the originating communication network (not shown), such as: a VolP call controller element. This element of the communication network is previously programmed to identify that certain types of calls are to be controlled by the system of the present invention (for example, by identifying that an 0800 number has been dialed, in the case of the STFC fixed network). After such identification, the call is then signaled to the signaling controller 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d associated with that specific communication network 6a, 6b, 6c or 6d. Signaling is done by using specific protocols, standardized by international and national standards and defined for each communication network.

Call processor 1 of system S receives calls via signaling controller and obtains preliminary information (oo25 mo, for example, the originating network of the terminal used for the call) and user identification information. This user identification information can be, for example, the subscriber's terminal number associated with the prepaid account and an authentication password.

It should be noted that if the terminal used to establish the call is the terminal associated with the prepaid telephone bill, the call processor S is able to recognize that terminal and, therefore, it will not be necessary to obtain the information of identification

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• · • ·" • · * • · · · • · dog. Thus, the user can place the call without having to authenticate with an automatic call center.

The system verifies the existence of the user data and authenticates the password provided, in case the call is made from a terminal not associated with the prepaid telephone bill, by consulting the system database.

The process of capturing identification information can be performed using an ad and digit 4 controller, which interacts with the user through, for example, pre-recorded voice messages (ads) and collection of digits entered by the user at the terminal origin of the call. The information captured by the ad and digit controller is sent to the call processor. In addition, the ad and digit controller can be used to transmit commercial advertisements and information to the user. The same ad and digit controller can be used to require the user to enter the digits of the desired destination terminal after identification and authentication.

After identifying and authenticating the user, the call processor 1 communicates with a credit database 3, which includes credit data from the prepaid account. Based on this credit data, which includes, for example, the user's (or subscriber's) account balance, call processor 1 determines whether it is possible to authorize the theephonic call (taking into account, for example, associated charging parameters the chosen destination, the day and time of the call). If the answer is positive, the call processor 1 authorizes the connection and the call is completed. If the answer is negative, a message informs the user about the impossibility of establishing that selected connection.

The call is connected by sending specific commands, internal to the system, by the call processor 1 to the signaling controller 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d originally involved in handling the user's call (ie, the signaling controller 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d that is associated with the originating communication network). The signaling controller translates the commands received into signaling messages specific to the associated communication network and

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sends them to the call control elements of these networks.

After the call is established, with the attendance of the destination terminal, the call processor 1 starts the process of burning the subscriber's credits, according to the specific charging data for the call made. If the subscriber's credits end before the call ends, the call is disconnected by the call processor by sending commands to the associated communication network, via the specific signaling controller 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d.

All events associated with the call, such as: 10 attendance of the destination terminal, destination terminal busy, disconnection of the destination terminal, disconnection of the origin terminal, network failures, etc., are sent by the communication network elements associated to the specific signaling controller 2a, 2b, 2c or 2d that informs the system's call processor to: stop the credit burn and release the resources allocated for that call, in the case of shutdown events and related to the non-completion of the call call; or start the cycle of burning and monitoring the call, in the case of a service event.

Figure 2 shows the logical diagram of the operation of the system called the call forwarder of the present invention, from the moment the call is received from the signaling controller associated with the specific communication network of the call origin (called, in the diagram, signaling controller X). After receiving the call from the X signaling controller (step E100), the processor checks (step

E200) if the dialed number represents remote access (for example, if the call was directed to an 0800 number). If so, the processor requests the user's identification information through the ad and digit controller (step E201) and queries the subscriber database to confirm his registration (steps E301 and E401). If the registration is not confirmed, the call is terminated via the announcement and digit controller (step E701). If the registration is confirmed, the user's credit balance is consulted (step E500) and, after checking the credits (step • ··· ·

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Ε600), the call is completed (step E800) via the signaling controller X (when there are enough credits) or is ended via the announcements and digits controller (step E700).

When the number dialed was not a remote access number (that is, when the terminal used is the one associated with the prepaid account), the processor consults the subscriber database (step E300) and checks whether the subscriber number is registered (step E400). If so, the credit balance is consulted (E500), and the call is completed (step E800) via the signaling controller X (when there are enough credits) or is terminated via the announcements and digits controller (step E700).

Regardless of the source of access (remote or not), after the call is completed (step E800), the processor remains in control of the credits used (step E900).

Although not illustrated in the figures, the system of the present invention may further comprise means to allow for the recharge (increments) of credits. Such means can take the form of, for example: a web interface, a data communication interface with banking establishments and lottery shops, a communication interface with call center units or an automatic communication interface based on interactive customer service units. calls and ad and digit controller.

During the call made, the subscriber's credits are debited, according to the relevant rates. If the user's credit runs out during the call, the call will be disconnected by the system. The burning of credits carried out by the system is carried out in real time, through the communication between the call processor and the credit database (using optionally the control of prepaid telephone credits).

To carry out the call, the system of the present invention communicates directly with the elements responsible for controlling the calls through protocols specific to the different networks. Such elements can be, for example: fixed telephone network exchanges with

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PAS (Service Access Point): MSG and CCC (Switching and Control Center) of any cellular network technology (for example: CDMA, GSM, UMTS, etc.); Sofswitch centrals to control voice calls over IP (VolP), and can also include Gatekeeper elements

H.323 and SIP Proxy; and data network elements associated with the cellular network, such as SGSN for GSM and PDSN networks. The control protocols between the communication networks and the system can be: CAMEL Phase 2, CAMEL Phase 3, CAMEL Phase 4, INAP-BR, INAP-CS1, INAP-CS2, SIP (RFC3261), WIN, or any other defined for control of services in communication networks.

As shown in figure 1, this communication is performed through the signaling controllers associated with the communication networks. The call processor communicates with signaling controllers, which, in turn, communicate with the network control elements through the specific protocols of those networks. Signaling controllers control signals for each communication network simultaneously and independently.

As explained above, the present system uses the following logical and functional blocks:

a) Subscriber credit database - responsible for storing the data and call credits for each subscriber in the pre-paid telephone account;

b) Control of prepaid credits - responsible for the control of authorization, consumption of credits and debit of them from the credit database, according to the predefined profile for each type of call made by the subscriber;

c) Call processor - responsible for the control and handling of calls received by the system, including the control of the ad and digit controller, so that each distinct type of call has a specific sequence of events (announcements, digit collection) , routing, disconnection, etc.);

d) Ad and digit controller - responsible for entering the ··· ·· ··· * ·· • · · · • · · · ·

• ··· · ··· · • · · · · · · · · ·· · ··· · · · announcements (pre-recorded voice messages) in calls and for collecting the digits dialed by the subscriber in response to adverts. The collected digits are sent to the call processor to be processed; and

e) Signaling controllers - responsible for controlling the individual signaling of each distinct network where the service is offered. These elements translate the received network signals to an internal standard in the system so that they can be handled by the Call Processor. Signaling Controllers handle signaling specific to the communications networks associated with the service, that is, signaling layer 4 or higher within the OSI model (according to a standard defined by ISO - International Organization for Standardization), such as: signaling INAP, CAMEL, SIP, etc. These signals are responsible for allowing the control of calls associated with the service to be removed from the communication network elements, such as CPAT exchanges, CCC exchanges, SIP Server, etc., and passed on to the system's Call Processor. Each signaling controller is independent and autonomous in relation to the others and they all work simultaneously.

The described system can also be used as prepaid communication systems in which there is no association of credits acquired with a pre-established terminal or account. In this form of use, credits are used after identifying the code and password associated with those specific credits. Each code pair and secret password is associated with a predefined amount of credits that will be informed to the user after contracting the service. In making the call, similar to the procedure already described, the user supplies the code and the secret password in the identification process, through interaction with an ad and digit controller. After identifying and authenticating the code and secret password provided by the user, the system, through the call processor and the ad and digit controller, prompts the user to dial the desired destination number. If credit is available to make the selected call, it is completed by sending commands from • ··· · ··· · ··· ·· ··· ··· ····· ·· · * · · • · ······ · ·· · · • · · · · · · «·· · ·

• ·· · · · · · call processor for the signaling controller involved. The rest of the process is similar to that already described for calls associated with credits linked to prepaid mobile subscribers.

Although in this description the credit database refers to a credit database of prepaid mobile subscribers, it should be understood that the present system can be used for any type of prepaid communications service, such as, for example, example, prepaid fixed telephone systems, text and multimedia messaging systems and data communication systems.

Figure 3 shows a graphical representation of one of the possible scenarios for implementing the system of the present invention. Based on these representations, an example of the operating process of the present system will be described:

PART 1. Call originated within the cellular network, by a prepaid mobile device:

The. Subscriber A of the cellular network and prepaid service dials subscriber ”B, using his mobile device;

B. The call is forwarded to the MSC cell central via normal processes defined for the cellular network (arrow 1);

ç. The cellular central MSC consults the database of the mobile network (HLR), receives the information that subscriber A is prepaid and triggers a query to the prepaid platform (indicated as platform in the figure), using CAP signaling ( arrow 2 (c));

d. The prepaid platform checks existing credits for subscriber A, authorizes the start of the call and monitors credit consumption in real time (arrow 2 (d));

and. The MSC forwards the call to the destination, subscriber B ”(arrow 3).

Note that since the terminal used by the subscriber is exactly the terminal linked to the prepaid account, there is no need to contact a call center and provide user identification information.

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PART 2. Call originating on the fixed network, through a public telephone: a. Subscriber A of the cellular network and the mobile prepaid service, dials the access number to the prepaid service (for example: via the 0800 number), defined for the communication network of the terminal being used;

B. The call is routed, based on the dialed number, to the central network of the terminal's source being used that has a PAS (Service Access Point) function so that control of the same is transferred to the system of the present invention (arrow 1 ') ;

ç. The central PAS triggers a query to the Prepaid platform (indicated as platform ”in the figure) that implements the logical and functional blocks of the system of the present invention, using INAP-BR signaling (arrow 2 '(c));

d. The Prepaid (System) platform instructs the PAS central to request subscriber A's mobile terminal number, personal password and destination number. The PAS central can use the internal ad and digit controller to execute this request or forward the call to an external ad and digit controller controlled by the Prepaid (System) platform. Based on the data received, the PrePayment (System) platform authenticates subscriber A, verifies existing credits, checks the start of the call and monitors credit consumption in real time (arrow 2 ’- (d));

and. The central PAS forwards the call to the destination, subscriber C (arrow 3 '), based on the commands received via INAP-BR signaling from the Prepaid platform (System).

Figure 4 shows, in detail, a service flow from the ad and digit controller used in PART 2 described in the example above.

The service flow shows the messages and advertisements that can be displayed and the data that can be requested from the service subscriber, when using a terminal not directly linked to the prepaid account. In addition, the logical flow of authentication and authorization of the call is also shown. The form of authentication can ·· ··· · ··· · ··· ·· · * ········ · · ·, · j; · ··. ; ; % 2 * · * • · · · · · · · ·· ·· be based on the subscriber's terminal number linked to the prepaid account and on a personal, secret and non-transferable password.

The messages that can be transmitted to the subscriber are represented by the word prompt ”in the figure. Such messages can be:

Prompt 1 = Welcome to the service

Prompt 2 = Dial your cell phone number

Prompt 3 = Invalid number

Prompt 4 = Enter your personal password

Prompt 5 = Invalid password

Prompt 6 = 'Dial the destination phone

Prompt 7 = Thank you for using our service

Prompt 8 = Your credit is insufficient

Prompt 9 = Destination busy

Having described examples of preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention covers other possible variations, being limited only by the content of the appended claims, including possible equivalents therein. In this sense, it should be clarified that, for the purposes of the present invention, the term telephony as used herein encompasses not only the communication of voice data, but the communication of any data that may be transmitted in a telecommunication system.

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Claims (6)

1. Prepaid telephone system (S) characterized by the fact that it comprises: a plurality of signaling controllers (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) 5 connected to a plurality of communication networks (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d), each signaling controller being responsible for controlling signals for each communication network in a simultaneous and independent; a credit database (3) comprising information relating to a user's credit and authentication data; 10 a call processor (1) in communication with the credit database and with the plurality of signaling controllers (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), the processor (1) being responsible for the control and handling of calls received by the system. 2. System, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it also comprises an ad and digit controller (4) in communication with the call processor (1) and with the communication networks (6a, 6b, 6c , 6d). 3. System, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the credit database (3) comprises information 20 relating to the credit data of a prepaid mobile subscriber. 4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that it also includes a control of prepaid telephony credits (5) in communication with the credit database (3) and with the call processor (1). 5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that it also comprises means for carrying out credit increases. 6. System, according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the means for carrying out credit increments comprise one of a web interface, a data communication interface with banking establishments and lottery shops, a communication interface with call center units or a communication interface I • ··· · ··· ·· • · · · * · · • · ·· · · ··· • · • · ·· Automatic based on interactive call answering units and ad and digit controller. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the plurality of communication networks (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) comprises at least one mobile telephone network and one fixed telephone network. 8. System according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the mobile telephone network comprises a CDMA mobile network or a GSM mobile network, and the fixed telephone network comprises a fixed STFC network and a fixed Vo IP network ( Voice over IP). 9. System, according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the plurality of communication networks comprises a mobile CDMA network, a mobile GSM network, a fixed network STFC and a fixed network VolP. 10. Process for making a call using credits associated with a prepaid phone account, characterized by the fact that it uses the system as defined in any of claims 1 to 6 and comprises the steps of: a) receive a call request from a communication terminal that is not linked to the prepaid phone bill; b) in response to the call request, obtain user identification information; c) based on user identification information; authenticate the user as a subscriber to the prepaid phone bill; d) after user authentication, access the user's credit data to verify the user's credit information; e) based on the user's credit information, authorize the start of the call; f) establish the connection of the call; and g) monitor, in real time, the consumption of credits during the call. 11. Process according to claim 10, characterized • · • · • · · «· • • • · ·· • · · • · ·· • · · · • · · • · * • · • • · • ·· • • ··· • • • · · • · • · • • • due to the fact that the prepaid phone bill is a prepaid mobile phone bill. 12. Process, according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the terminal that is not linked to a telephone bill 5 prepaid is a terminal on a fixed telephone network. 13. Process, according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the terminal that is not linked to a prepaid telephone account is a terminal on a telephone network based on voice over IP (VolP) technology. »·· ·· • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · • · · 1/4 6a 6b 6c 6d