Apparatus and method for providing dynamic communications network traffic control

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling traffic on a communications network include dynamic and flexible control plans that enable service providers to control or influence customer access to communications facilities. Communications facilities are monitored to identify network elements, such as cell sites, that are overloaded. When the traffic intensity on a particular facility exceeds a predetermined level, either active or passive control is imposed on subscribers that are in the geographic area of the facility. Active control involves blocking, delaying or disrupting subscriber calls during the critical time period. Passive control involves providing cost incentives or disincentives during low or peak periods of traffic intensity. Customers are notified of the commencement and / or termination of active or passive control preferably via SMS. When implemented with stationary cellular service, the systems and methods aid in traffic engineering and provide opportunities for customers to reduce the cost and increase the accessibility of telephone service.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 261,132, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Providing Dynamic Communications Network Traffic Control,” filed on Sep. 27, 2002 and assigned to the same assignee as this application. The aforementioned patent application is expressly incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to telecommunications, and more particularly, to systems and methods for providing reduced cost cellular service by minimizing the cost of equipment, activation and service. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]“Plain old telephone service” (POTS) is ubiquitous in much of the world today. For a variety of reasons, however, cellular technology sometimes provides an attractive alternative to POTS, even for customers that do not need the mobility that cellular service inherently provides. For example, a low-income customer such as a college stude...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a cellular phone that is less expensive, easier to activate, and has more flexible rate plans and signals. The phone includes a stationary cellular device (SCD) that lacks certain features that are costly to provide, such as unlimited handoff capability. The SCD can only handoff between cell sites in a predefined list. The process for activating the SCD involves over-the-air activation and a customer providing identifying information to a customer activation center (CAC). The CAC uses the identifying information to authenticate the SCD and allow the user to handoff between cell sites in a fixed area. The invention also includes flexible rate plans and real-time rate signals that benefit both the service provider and the customer by providing cost-effective service and optimizing network capacity. The invention addresses the problem of high cost and limited availability of cellular service in certain markets.

Problems solved by technology

The SCD lacks the unlimited handoff capability that allows ongoing cellular telephone conversations to be passed from any one cell site to any other cell site.

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