MXPA99007060A - Wireless communications system and method of operation for reducing fraud - Google Patents

Abstract

The wireless communications system includes a home carrier and HLR memory means, associated with the home carrier, for storing a number of Home Locator Records defining the level of service to be provided to the individual subscribers of the home carrier. The Home Locator Record is at least initially configured to prohibit call termination of the respective subscriber outside of the predetermined service area of the home carrier. However, the wireless communications system also includes reconfiguring means for at least temporarily reconfiguring the Home Locator Record of a respective subscriber in response to a request for communications service involving the subscriber who has roamed outside of the predetermined service area of the home carrier if the subscriber has prepaid for the requested services. Once reconfigured, the wireless communications system can provide the Home Locator Record of the respective subscriber to a serving carried via IS-41 (Rev. A) messaging. The reconfigured Home Locator Record serves as the roaming subscriber's Visitor Locator Record which, in turn, authorizes the requestd wireless communications service. Once the requested service has been ended, either upon completion of the call or exhaustion of the prepaid services, the reconfiguring means resets the Home Locator Record of the respective subscriber such that the Home Locator Record again prohibits call termination with the subscriber outside of the service area of the home carrier in order to further protect the wirelsss communications system from fraud.

Description

INAL MBRICO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION TO REDUCE FRAUD Background of the invention It has been noted by many that the use of wireless communications and in particular the use of mobile telephony as a means of personal communication is experiencing substantial growth, if not is that exponential in recent years. While the growth and expansion in the use of mobile telephony for personal communication has been phenomenal in many aspects, there are still significant obstacles to expanding its use to a large segment of the general population. As in many emerging industries, the cell phone industry has been plagued and has been scammed by a relatively small segment of the public who attempt to defraud service providers or carriers. This relatively small segment of the public has found a variety of means to dupe these existing safe-conducts. It is estimated that fraud by these "consumers" costs the cellular industry more than three million dollars per day. As a result of the rampant growth of fraud in the cellular industry, carriers have been forced to adopt several techniques designed to reduce REF: 30953 the probability of defrauding the bearer, an obvious method is to limit access to the system only to those subscribers considered highly and keep lists of those previous subscribers who in the past have defrauded the carriers. The main problem with this procedure is that it excludes the significantly larger segment of the general population consisting of otherwise reliable individuals who want cellular services that fall close to the high credit standard. As a result, this procedure severely restricts the potential opportunities for growth at a time when additional but essential growth is desired for the expansion of the cellular telephone industry. Efforts to reduce the relative expense of the bearer in monetary terms to these unscrupulous practices have also been impeded by the verifiable fullness of features and options now available to users of various forms of wireless communication in which cellular telephony is included. Perhaps the most desirable characteristic for cellular subscribers is the ability to "roam" in areas to which they are not serviced by the domestic carrier. These features and options are virtually demanded by the consumer, but the responsibility associated with the use of these features are at least initially borne by the domestic carrier. However, the domestic carrier does not retain control over the extent of the use of these features and options in all potential markets since access to a service and property may be authorized in areas that are serviced by other carriers without the real-time knowledge of the domestic carrier. The inability to selectively control access to the various features available to users of wireless communication stems from the fundamental nature of the wireless communications industry and the basic fact that it relies on a network of different carriers in order to provide service. of any significant geographic scope. Before providing local connectivity to a visiting cellular subscriber, first a "remote" or service carrier verifies the credit capacity of the subscriber or more appropriately, verifies that the domestic carrier accepts financial responsibility for any charges incurred by its subscriber. In this regard, each cellular subscriber is identified by a combination of a discrete mobile identification number (MIN) and a specific electronic serial number (ESN) which are passed from the "remote" cellular carrier to the domestic bearer of the subscriber by the subscribers. existing IS-41 (Rev. A) messaging protocols in response to a service request from a roaming subscriber in the service area of the remote bearer. Based on the MIN / ESN, the domestic carrier verifies electronically if the cellular subscriber can have access to the required services. In particular, the domestic carrier maintains a home locator register (HLR) associated with each subscriber that provides data concerning the particular subscriber in which data identifying those characteristics and options available to the subscriber are included. In conventional cellular systems, the home locator register is normally configured, in advance, by an operator and can not be altered by the carrier during the verification process. After this, at the request of the wireless communication service involving a subscriber of the domestic carrier in the service area of a carrier providing "remote" service, the domestic bearer transmits the subscriber's home locator record to the service bearer to create the subscriber visitor locator register (VLR) that defines the type and level of service has to be provided to the roamer. One method to reduce a carrier's exposure to fraud would be to provide local prepaid wireless communications services. According to this method, a carrier can integrate existing systems used for billing purposes, for example, to verify the actual time used by the cellular subscriber and, when the subscriber approaches the prepaid limit, to restrict and / or terminate correspondingly the service, to limit by this the relative exposure of the carrier, however, the problem with this procedure is that the prepaid services should in general be limited to the geographical area that is served by the domestic carrier in such a way that is not allowed that the cellular subscriber roams since the extension of use outside the service area of the domestic carrier can not be verified or restricted, whereas a wireless communication system can control the origin of the call through the population of the "line" field direct "of the subscriber visitor locator register (VLR) with the telephone number of a switchback which, in turn, determines whether the subscriber has paid in advance for the cellular service, problems associated with call termination with a prepaid subscriber can not be addressed. In this regard, the problems associated with the termination or completion of the call with a prepaid subscriber are exacerbated compared to the origin of the call because an incoming call to the subscriber can be made directly to the carrier's roaming access port. of "remote" service. WO-A-96 36192 describes a wireless communication system according to the preamble of claim 1, a wireless communication switching platform according to the preamble of claim 8 and a method for selectively providing wireless communication services. to a plurality of subscribers in accordance with the preamble of claim 14. This document is concerned with the provision of a UPT system, that is, a universal personal telecommunications system, which allows users to have access to telecommunications services without be limited to a specific operator or, in other words, to provide users with free access to any operator's network. There is therefore a need in the wireless communications industry and in particular in the cellular telephone industry for a wireless communication system and an associated method of operation that allows a carrier to limit its exposure to potential consumer fraud, while allowing subscribers have access to the full range of features and options, which include roaming and more particularly the consummation of the call with the subscriber while the subscriber is traveling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The above disadvantages in existing wireless communication systems are overcome in accordance with the present invention by temporarily reconfiguring the information maintained in the subscriber's home locator register (otherwise permanently) on a real-time basis with in order to selectively allow the consummation of the call insofar as the subscriber is traveling in foreign markets, that is, service areas different from the service area of the domestic carrier. However, the subscriber's home locator record is only reconfigured in response to a request for wireless communications service if the subscriber has paid in advance for the required service, such as roaming and wishes to receive a call. During the course of a call, the amount of remaining prepaid services is verified and the service is terminated once the prepaid amount has been exhausted. After the completion of the required service, the subscriber's home locator register is reset to again prohibit the completion of the call, to further protect the home carrier from fraud. For example, the home bearer is protected from subsequent attempts to contact a roaming subscriber via the roaming access port of the service bearer since the call is not allowed to be absent from the reconfiguration of the home pager log of the subscriber. The wireless communication system of the present invention includes a home bearer and HLR memory means, associated with the home bearer, for storing a home locator record database. The home locator record database includes a home locator registration number that defines the service to be provided to the domestic bearer subscribers. The home locator register is at least initially configured to allow only the origin of direct line calls and prohibit the termination or completion of the call with the respective subscriber. The wireless communication system also includes reconfiguration means for temporarily reconfiguring the home locator register of a respective subscriber in response to a communication service request that involves the subscriber receiving an incoming call. For example, the request may be a call completion request with a subscriber who has traveled outside the service area of the domestic carrier. In response to this request, the reconfiguration means reconfigures the home locator register of the respective subscriber to allow the call to be consummated if the subscriber has paid in advance the required service. In response to requests for wireless communications service involving a subscriber of the domestic carrier that has traveled outside the service area of the domestic carrier, the wireless communication system and method initially determine whether the subscriber has paid in advance for the required service. In this regard, the wireless communication systems may include counting or accounting memory means for storing accounting information for domestic carrier subscribers. This account information may include information concerning particular services, such as long distance and roaming, which have been paid in advance by the respective subscribers. After determining that the subscriber has adequate funds in his account for the required service and a call is waiting to be delivered to the subscriber, the reconfiguration means at least temporarily reconfigures the home locator register of the respective subscriber to allow the completion of the call . Then, the wireless communication system and method provides the reconfigured home locator record of the respective subscriber to a service bearer (usually via IS-41 (Rev. A) messaging) which in turn provides the required wireless communications service. During the provision of the service required by the service bearer, the wireless communication system and method verifies the accounting memory means and terminates the required service once the account information of the respective subscriber indicates that the services that have been paid in advance by the subscriber have been exhausted. Once the required service has been completed, either at the completion of the call or exhaustion of the prepaid services, the reconfiguration means restores the home locator records of the respective subscriber in such a way that the home locator register again prohibits the consummation of the call with the subscriber. As a result, the wireless communication system is further protected from fraud since calls to the roaming subscriber via the roaming access port of the service carrier will not be consummated since the home locator register of the respective subscriber has been reset to prohibit again. the consummation of calls with the subscriber. In this way, a particular subscriber may have access in a discrete transaction-to-transaction basis to characteristics of the wireless communication system that are generally considered desirable, such as call consummation with a roaming subscriber. Meanwhile, the domestic carrier can substantially limit its relative exposure to the illicit practices of the relatively small segment of the potential consumer market for wireless communications services. Thus, carriers can increase the universe of potential subscribers to include consumers that are slightly less credit since the relative exposure of the carrier is limited in accordance with the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other advantages of the features of the invention and the manner in which it is carried out, will become more readily apparent after consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred and exemplary embodiments and wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the basic components of a wireless communication system in accordance with the present invention, including a domestic carrier having HLR memory means and accounting memory means associated therewith; Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communications switching platform according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the various communications links within a wireless communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operations carried out by a wireless communications system and method according to one modality.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. However, this invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments summarized herein; rather, this embodiment is provided in such a manner that this description will be extensive and complete to the full extent of the invention for those skilled in the art. Similar numbers refer to similar elements from beginning to end. Referring now to Figure 1, a wireless communication system 10 is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. While this communication system will be described primarily herein in conjunction with a cellular telephone system, the wireless communication system may include any cellular or digital communications system, such as an AMPS cellular communications system, a digital cellular system or a personal communication system, without deviating from the scope of the present invention. The wireless communication system 10 typically includes a plurality of carriers 12 to provide wireless communication services within respective predetermined service areas. The carriers are generally connected to a communications network 14, such as an associated public switched telephone network which in turn is associated with and in communication with one or more terminals, such as the landline telephone terminal 16 illustrated in Figure 1 For a cellular telephone system, for example, a duplex communications link can be made between two cellular terminals or between a cellular terminal and a landline telephone terminal. Each bearer 12 provides wireless communications service to a variety of subscribers within the predetermined service area of the bearer. A particular subscriber will consequently have a home carrier 12a with which the subscriber has contracted the wireless communication service and a variety of "remote" carriers having different service areas that can function as service carriers 12b in instances where the subscriber travels outside the service area of the domestic carrier, but with the service area of a respective service carrier. For a cellular communication system, the service area of a cellular carrier is divided into a diversity of cells 18, designated as cell 1, cell 2, ... cell n in Figure 1. In addition to radio base stations and the associated antennas within each respective cell, a bearer includes a mobile telephone switching center (MTSO) 20 which serves as the central coordinating element for all cells and which normally includes a processor 22, such as an accounting processor a base of a computer and a telephone switch 24. The MTSO also interconnects in general with the telephone company's zone exchanges, controls the processing of calls and handles billing activities. In accordance with the present invention, the home carrier 12a is associated with HLR memory means 26 and accounting memory means 28. The HLRI / O memory means or the accounting memory means can form a portion of the MTSO 20 of the domestic carrier. Alternatively, the HLRI / O memory means or the accounting memory means may be external to but in communication with the MTSO of the home carrier as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The HRL memory means 26 typically includes a device. of memory to store a home locator record database. The home locator record database includes a variety of home locator records that define the wireless communication service to be provided to subscribers, respective of the domestic carrier 12a. For example, the home locator record of a respective subscriber defines the features and options that the subscriber has selected. A feature of the many features defined by a home locator register of the subscriber is the completion of the call indicating whether the subscriber is allowed to receive calls, in which received calls are included as long as the subscriber travels outside the predetermined service area. of the domestic carrier. The accounting memory means 28 also typically includes a memory device for storing accounting information for each of the subscribers of the home carrier 12a. In accordance with the present invention, subscribers can pay in advance for selected wireless communications services. For example, subscribers can pay in advance for a full-featured wireless communication system 10 that controls all facets and wireless communications regardless of the subscriber's location, that is, at home or while traveling in a manner that eliminates liability of the domestic carrier. As shown in Figure 2, the MTSO 20 of the home carrier 12a has been specifically developed as a switching platform to provide wireless communication service to a variety of subscribers while protecting the home bearer from fraud. As shown in Figure 2, the switching platform of the present invention includes reconfiguration means 30 for at least temporarily reconfiguring the registration of a home locator of a respective subscriber in response to a request for wireless communications service involving the subscriber outside the predetermined service area of the household carrier. For example, this request may be an incoming call requesting call consummation with the respective subscriber outside the predetermined service area of the home carrier. As explained later herein, the reconfiguration means 30 is responsive to the accounting memory means 28 for reconfiguring only the home locator register of the respective subscriber if the stored accounting information indicates that the subscriber has paid for the service in advance. of wireless communications required. If the subscriber has paid in advance for the required wireless communications service, the reconfiguration means will temporarily reconfigure the home locator register of the respective subscriber to allow the required feature, ie, call consummation, while the subscriber travels outside the service area of the domestic carrier 12a. While the means of reconfiguration will be described hereinafter in conjunction with the reconfiguration of a home locator record to allow call completion, in which call completion is included outside the predetermined service area of the domestic carrier, the reconfiguration means may reconfigure the home locator register to selectively allow the subscriber to temporarily use other features as long as the subscriber travels outside the predetermined service area of the home carrier. After completion of the required wireless communications service, the reconfiguration means 30 restores the home locator register of the respective subscriber to again prohibit the required feature, such as prohibiting the call consummation with the subscriber outside the predetermined service area of the subscriber. 12a domestic carrier As described hereinafter, the switching platform 20 of the present invention therefore reduces, if not eliminates, fraud by allowing only the completion of the call as it travels outside the carrier's predetermined service area. domestic in instances or specific cases in which the subscriber has paid in advance. As also shown in figure 2, the switching platform 20 may include verification means 32 for verifying the accounting memory means 28 as long as the switching platform provides the required wireless communications service. In instances in which a subscriber's home locator record has been reconfigured temporarily to allow call completion, the verification means may continue its verification of accounting information concerning the wireless communications services that have been paid in advance by the respective subscriber as long as the subscriber travels outside the predetermined service area of the domestic carrier 12a. In this regard, once the subscriber begins to use the prepaid wireless communications services, the accounting information of the respective subscriber is modified, preferably in real time by the processor 22, in order to accurately reflect the remaining prepaid services available. for the respective subscriber. The switching platform 20 also preferably includes the call duration control 34 for terminating the required wireless communications service. Once the accounting information indicates that all wireless communications services that have been paid in advance by the respective subscriber have been exhausted, the verification means 22 notify the call duration control means. Then, the call duration control means terminates the wireless communications service such as by disconnecting the telephone call from the subscriber.

As described above, the switching platform 20 also includes a switch 24, such as a telephone switch and a processor 22, such as a computer based accounting processor. As shown in Figure 2, the processor may include the reconfiguration means 30, the verification means 32 and the call duration control means 34. However, the reconfiguration means, the verification means and / or the call duration control means of an advantageous embodiment are implemented by a combination of physical elements such as the processor and programming elements such as a program product of computer. The computer program product of this advantageous embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program code means that can be read by computer, such as a series of computer instructions, implemented in the storage medium. which can be read by computer to selectively reconfigure the home locator records of the respective subscribers to verify the accounting memory means and / or to selectively terminate the wireless communications service of the respective subscribers.

In this regard, Figures 1-4 are block diagrams illustrating in flow chart and flow control methods, systems and program products according to the invention. It will be understood that to each block or stage of the block diagram, flow charts and control flow illustrations and combinations of blocks in the block diagram, flow chart and control flow illustrations, can be implemented by means of program instructions. computer. These computer program instructions may be loaded into a computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a program, such that instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device create means to implement the functions specified in the block diagram, flow chart or control flow blocks or stages. These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can be directed to a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the memory can be read. By computer they produce an article of manufacture that includes instructional means that implement the function specified in the block diagram, flow chart or control flow blocks or steps. The instructions of the computer program may also be loaded into a computer or other programmable device to cause a series of operational steps to be carried out on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process in such a manner that the instructions that are run on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps to implement the functions specified in the block diagram, flow chart or blocks or control flow steps. Thus, the blocks or steps of the block diagram, flow chart or control flow illustrations support combinations of means for carrying out the specified functions, combinations of steps to carry out the specified functions and program instruction means to carry out the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block or stage of the block diagram, flowchart or control flow illustrations and combinations of blocks or steps in the block diagram, flowchart or control flow illustrations can be implemented by computer systems based on physical elements of special purpose that carry out the functions or stages specified or combinations of physical elements of special purpose and computer instructions.

The operations of the wireless communication system 10 of the present invention will now be described primarily in conjunction with the flow chart of Figure 4. As shown in block 50, the wireless communication system initially receives a request for wireless communications service. which involves the subscriber outside the predetermined service area of the home carrier 12a of the subscriber. For example, the switching platform 20 of the present invention and more particularly the switch 24 may receive a call from a subscriber who is currently in a region served by another carrier, that is, the service bearer 12b . In one embodiment, each subscriber of the wireless communication system of the present invention is assigned a unique telephone number, such as a unique toll-free number or a common toll-free number with a unique personal identification number (PIN). After receiving a call to the telephone number assigned to the respective subscriber, the switching platform initially identifies the mobile identification number (MIN) and electronic serial number (ESN) of the subscriber based on the subscriber's unique toll-free number or the unique PIN of the subscriber. subscriber. After this, the switching platform 20 and more in particular the verification means 32 determine whether the subscriber has paid in advance the required wireless communication service, such as roaming or more in particular, the call consummation in so much that the subscriber is traveling. See block 52. If the accounting information for the respective subscriber indicates that the subscriber has not paid for any service in advance that has not previously been used or exhausted, the switching platform provides a message to the caller, such as "the cellular telephone number. which you marked is temporarily out of service ", before the disconnection. See block 54. If the subscriber has paid in advance for the required wireless communication service, however, the communication platform determines whether the subscriber is currently on another call. See block 56. If so, the switching platform preferably transfers the incoming call to a voicemail such that the caller can leave a message to the subscriber as shown in block 58. If the subscriber has paid in advance the wireless communication service required and the subscriber is not in another call, the switching platform 20 and more in particular the reconfiguration means 30 temporarily reconfigure the home locator register of the respective subscriber to allow the consummation of the call in such a manner that the call completion request with the subscriber who is currently outside the predetermined service area of the home carrier 12a can be accommodated, that is, the call can be consummated. See block 60. Once the home locator register of the respective subscriber has been reconfigured, the service bearer 12b is asked for a temporary local dialing number (TLDN). See block 62. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the switching platform of the present invention may request from the service bearer, such as via switch-to-switch communications (SS-7), a TLDN. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, however, the HLR memory means 26 is a component of a HLRC node 36 that is adapted to communicate with both switching platforms, ie the domestic MTSO and the service bearer, this is the service MTSO. In this embodiment, the home bearer can issue an intracarrier request to the bearer in service, via the HLR node, for a TLDN once the home locator record or the respective subscriber has been reconfigured. Either one mode or another and in response to the request of the domestic carrier of a TLDN, the service bearer 12b requests a visitor locator record of the domestic bearer 12a. As described above, a visitor locator record of the subscriber is based on the current home locator record of the respective subscriber. Thus, "the wireless communication system 10 of the present invention reconfigures the home locator register of the respective subscriber before sending the current visitor locator record of the subscriber to the service bearer, either via the switching platform 20 or via the node 36 of HLR, in order to create or update the localizer record of the subscriber visitor that is maintained by the service bearer, see block 64. Since the reconfigured home locator register now allows the call to be consummated with the respective subscriber, then the service bearer provides the switching platform with a TLDN, see block 66. For example, the service bearer can provide the switching platform with a TLDN for the respective subscriber via switch-to-switch communications as shown in figure 1 or via intra-carrier signals, such as the HLR node, as shown in Figure 3. After of receiving the TLDN, the switching platform and more in particular, the switch 24 dials with TLDN to provide the incoming call. See block 68. Following the call delivery and during the period of time in which the subscriber's telephone remains off-hook, the accounting information in the accounting memory means 28 concerning the respective subscriber are modified to effectively decrease the amount of remaining wireless communications services that have been prepaid by the subscriber and that will be provided to the subscriber. See block 70. For example, processor 22 may repeatedly decrease the remaining prepaid time of the respective subscriber as the subscriber's telephone remains off-hook. As shown in block 78, the switching platform 20 also repeatedly determines whether the subscriber has completed the telephone call, such as by hanging the telephone or by another signal in another way. If the switching platform determines that the telephone call has not been consummated, the switching platform 20 and more in particular the verification means 32 continue with their verification of the accounting information for the respective subscriber to determine whether the subscriber has prepaid and has the right to additional wireless communications service. See block 72. If the accounting information for the respective subscriber indicates that the subscriber has exhausted all of his prepaid services, the verification means notify the call duration control means 34 which, in turn, terminate the service, this is, they disconnect the phone call. See block 80. If the accounting information for the respective subscriber indicates that the subscriber is entitled to additional services, however, the means of verification then determine whether the wireless communications services that have been prepaid by the subscriber and that persist to be provided are small such as less than 10 minutes. See block 74. If so, the switching platform can announce the remaining time to the subscriber, in such a way that the subscriber can plan to consummate the telephone call in the remaining time. See block 76. Otherwise this verification process may continue as shown in figure 4. If the call has ended, either by the action of the respective subscriber or by means 34 of call duration control after exhaustion of the prepaid services, the switching platform 20 and more particularly the reconfiguration means 30 will restore the home locator registration of the subscriber to prohibit the consummation of the call, before producing the telephone call. See blocks 82 and 84. By resetting the subscriber's home locator record to prohibit the call's consummation, the wireless communication system 10 of the present invention reduces, if not preventing fraud by not allowing unauthorized access to any subscriber. In particular, subsequent telephone calls to the roaming access port of the service bearer 12b requesting call consummation with a roaming subscriber of the home bearer 12a will not be consummated since the home locator register of the respective subscriber that is provided to the bearer of The service will indicate again that the subscriber is prohibited from receiving calls. Thus, the wireless communication system and methods of the present invention allow call consummation with a roaming subscriber in a prepaid limited base while reducing, if not preventing, fraud in the home / service carrier. As a result, carriers can increase the universe of potential subscribers to include consumers that are slightly less credit since the relative exposure of the carrier is limited in accordance with the present invention. In the drawings and the specification a preferred embodiment of the invention has been summarized and although specific terms are used, the terms are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention is summarized in the following claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (18)

1. Claims Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A wireless communication system characterized in that it comprises: a domestic carrier for providing wireless communications service to a subscriber in a predetermined service area; home locator register (HLR) memory means associated with the home bearer for storing a home locator record database comprising a plurality of home locator records that at least partially define the wireless communications service to be provided by the respective subscribers of the domestic carrier, characterized in that: the home locator register is configured at least initially to prohibit the completion or termination of the call with the respective subscriber and the system also comprises reconfiguration means to reconfigure the registry at least temporarily home locator of a respective subscriber in response to a request for wireless communications service that involves the subscriber allowing the call to be consummated with the subscriber if the subscriber has prepaid the required wireless communications service.
2. 2. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: the request for wireless communications services is a call completion request with the respective subscriber outside the predetermined service area of the domestic carrier and the reconfiguration means reconfigure at least temporarily the home locator register of the subscriber to allow the call consummation with the subscriber if the subscriber has paid in advance the wireless communication service with the domestic carrier.
3. 3. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that: the system further comprises a service bearer for providing wireless communications service in a predetermined service area that is at least partially different from the predetermined service area of the The home carrier and the service carrier cooperate with the home carrier to provide the required wireless communications service if the reconfiguration means has reconfigured the home locator record of the respective subscriber to allow the call to be consummated.
4. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the configuration means re-establish the home locator register of the respective subscriber after the consummation of the required wireless communications service in such a way that the home locator register prohibits another the completion of the call with the subscriber.
5. 5. A wireless communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises counting or accounting memory means, associated with the domestic bearer for storing accounting information for the plurality of subscribers of the domestic bearer that includes account information or accounting concerning the wireless communications services that have been prepaid in advance by the respective subscribers.
6. 6. A wireless communication system according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises verification means for verifying the accounting memory means insofar as the domestic carrier provides the required wireless communications service.
7. A wireless communication system according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises call duration control means for terminating the required wireless communications service once the accounting information for the respective subscriber indicates that the services of Wireless communications that have been paid in advance by the subscriber have been exhausted.
8. 8. A wireless communications switching platform for selectively providing wireless communications services to a plurality of subscribers, wherein the wireless communication service to be provided to a respective subscriber is at least partially defined by a home locator register and wherein the wireless communications switching platform comprises accounting memory means for storing accounting information for the plurality of subscribers, characterized in that: the home locator register is configured at least initially to prohibit the call consummation with the subscriber outside a predetermined service area and the wireless communication switching platform further comprises reconfiguration, responsive means to the accounting memory means, to reconfigure at least temporarily the home locator register of a respective subscriber in response to a request for wireless communication service involving the subscriber outside the predetermined service area to allow the call consummation with the subscriber if the stored accounting information indicates that the subscriber has paid in advance the required wireless communication service.
9. 9. A wireless communications switching platform according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a switch for providing the required wireless communications service if the home locator register allows the call consummation with the respective subscriber.
10. A wireless communications switching platform according to claim 8, characterized in that the reconfiguration means re-establish the home locator register of the respective subscriber after the consummation of the required wireless communications service in such a way that the home locator register again prohibits the consummation of the call with the subscriber outside the predetermined service area.
11. 11. A wireless communications switching platform according to claim 8, characterized in that the accounting memory means includes account or accounting information concerning the wireless communications services that have been paid in advance by the respective subscribers.
12. 12. A wireless communications switching platform according to claim 11, characterized in that it further comprises verification means for verifying the accounting memory means while the wireless communications switching platform provides the required wireless communications service.
13. A wireless communications switching platform according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises means for controlling the duration of the call to terminate the required wireless communications service once the account information for the respective subscriber indicates that wireless communications services that have been paid in advance by the subscriber have been exhausted.
14. 14. A method for selectively providing wireless communications services to a plurality of subscribers, wherein the wireless communications service to be provided to a respective subscriber is defined at least partially by a home locator register and wherein the method comprises the following steps : receiving a request for wireless communications services including call consummation with the subscriber outside of a first predetermined service area; determining if the subscriber has paid in advance the required wireless communications service, characterized in that: the home locator register is configured at least initially to prohibit the consummation of calls with the subscriber and the method also comprises the following steps: reconfigure less temporarily the home locator register of the subscriber to allow call consummation with the subscriber if the subscriber has prepaid the required wireless communications service and provide the required wireless communication service if the home locator register is reconfigured to allow the completion of calls with the subscriber.
15. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the provisioning step comprises providing the reconfigured home locator record to a service bearer or server that provides the required wireless communication service, wherein the service bearer or The server provides the wireless communication service within a second predetermined service area that is at least partially different from the first predetermined service area.
16. 16. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises the step of restoring the home locator register of the respective subscriber after the consummation of the required wireless communications service in such a way that the home locator register again prohibits the Call consummation with the subscriber outside the predetermined service area.
17. 17. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises determining repeatedly during the provision stage, whether the subscriber has paid in advance the continuation of the wireless communication service provided.
18. 18. A method according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises terminating the required wireless communications service after determining that the wireless communications services that have been paid in advance by the subscriber have been exhausted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wireless communications system including a home carrier and HLR memory means associated with the home carrier is described for storing a variety of home locator records that define the level of services to be provided to subscribers. Individuals of the domestic carrier. The home locator register is configured at least initially to prohibit the call consummation of the respective subscriber outside the predetermined service area of the home carrier. In addition, the wireless communication system also includes reconfiguration means for at least temporarily reconfiguring the home locator record of a respective subscriber in response to a communication service request involving the subscriber who has traveled outside the predetermined service area of the subscriber. domestic carrier if the subscriber has prepaid the required services. Once reconfigured, the wireless communications system can provide the home locator record of the respective subscriber to a service carrier via IS-41 (Rev. A) messaging. The reconfigured home locator register serves as the visitor locator register of the roaming subscriber which in turn, authorizes the required wireless communications service. Once the required service has ended, either upon completion of the call or exhaustion of the prepaid services, the reconfiguration means re-establish the home locator register of the respective subscriber in such a way that the home locator register again prohibits the consummation of call with the subscriber outside the service area of the domestic carrier in order to additionally protect the wireless communication system from fraud.