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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 860,640, filed on May 21, 2001, U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 118,378, filed on Jul. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,851, and U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 559,283, filed on Nov. 15, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,975, and is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 364,479, filed on Dec. 23, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,067, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to a cellular telecommunications system having a security feature which allows only pre-authorized users to complete cellular telephone calls. More particularly, the cellular telecommunications system of the present invention permits cellular telecommunications providers to obtain pre-paid subscribers and eliminate credit-risk problems. In addition, the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] The present invention allows a pre-paid user to access the cellular telecommunication system and have authentication and accounting occur transparently without any preliminary input by the user. The present invention accomplishes this by using the ANI as the file link to identify and authenticate the cellular telephone against the database. Thus, cellular telephone users are freed of the need to carry and use cards, are freed of the need to enter account information as a first step in the authentication process and the possibility of fraud on the cellular service providers is minimized.

[0017] The present invention also allows pre-paid subscribers to accept incoming calls from landline callers and provide a prepaid calling card procedure to subscribers so that the system's subscribers can conveniently purchase additional airtime and pay monthly access fees. Finally, the present invention provides a unique interface between the system cellular switch and point-of-sale (POS) so that messages and data packets can be passed back and forth to perform specifically desired transactions.

Problems solved by technology

Improper entry of a speed dialing alias or destination for the pre-set number of attempts will cause the host computer to disconnect the user.

Moreover, the D'Urso system lacks direct interface with the remote database for real time account balance adjustment during a telecommunications event.

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