An
improved method and
system for accessing
wireless data services that reduce messaging and enable
roaming subscribers to access data services are described. A
wireless communication
system in accordance with the present invention includes at least a
service control point and a
gateway system (e.g., a Gateway Generalized
Packet Radio Service Serving Node (GGSN)) that is coupled to a data network. To obtain access to data services, a
wireless subscriber unit establishes communication with a
gateway system and requests data services from the
gateway system. In response to the request, the gateway
system queries the
service control point regarding authorized data services for the subscriber unit. If the gateway system receives a negative reply from the
service control point, then the gateway system denies access to the data services by the subscriber Unit. However, if the gateway system receives a positive reply from the
service control point, then the gateway system enables access to the data services by the subscriber unit. In a preferred embodiment, the gateway system tracks the requested data services utilizing pre-defined resource units. In one embodiment, the gateway system tracks
service utilization by periodically querying and receiving a reply from the
service control point after each pre-defined resource unit has been utilized. In this embodiment, the
service control point updates an account balance of remaining resource units in response to receiving the queries and informs the gateway system when
data access should be denied.