WO2000064139A2 - Gestion des couts d'appels et controle de facturation integres a un telephone mobile - Google Patents

Gestion des couts d'appels et controle de facturation integres a un telephone mobile Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000064139A2
WO2000064139A2 PCT/US2000/009436 US0009436W WO0064139A2 WO 2000064139 A2 WO2000064139 A2 WO 2000064139A2 US 0009436 W US0009436 W US 0009436W WO 0064139 A2 WO0064139 A2 WO 0064139A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mobile telephone
predetermined
telephone
data
call
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/009436
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2000064139A3 (fr
Inventor
Gordon C. Collett
Gary A. Gale
Original Assignee
Amik, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Amik, Inc. filed Critical Amik, Inc.
Priority to AU43352/00A priority Critical patent/AU4335200A/en
Publication of WO2000064139A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000064139A2/fr
Publication of WO2000064139A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000064139A3/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/70—Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
    • H04M15/745—Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0108—Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/018—On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/20—Technology dependant metering
    • H04M2215/2026—Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/32—Involving wireless systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/82—Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation

Definitions

  • the present invention is generally related to general cost control and billing programs that are used in accounting for communication service management, such as among mobile telephone systems and networks, including cellular telephone services, Personal Communication
  • PCSTM mobile wireless telephone systems
  • mobile telephone systems and other such mobile wireless telephone systems (collectively referred to as mobile telephone systems), and, in particular, to a system of tracking, accessing, and controlling mobile telephone calls on a real-time basis including managing the costs and providing the ability to bill the costs to an account, budget or project.
  • Another problem with this billing process occurs when the mobile telephone is being provided to a user on a temporary basis such as renting the telephone.
  • the normal rental process should generate an immediate receipt when the telephone is returned showing the calls made, the information pertaining to those calls, such as but not limited to dialed number, call duration, date and time. This not only provides a receipt to the user for the bill, but allows the telephone provider to immediately bill the customer for effective cash flow. If the calls cannot be evaluated until the monthly bill is received, immediate customer billing, or real-time receipts, are not possible.
  • Telemgc Cellulgr Corporation is olso the ossignee of two other patents relating to the storage of a limited amount of call information in a cellulgr telephone with the capability to download this information to a central computer for processing real-time call information for cellular telephone rental systems.
  • U.S. Patent Number 5,625,669 entitled Mobile telephone With Internal Call Accounting Controls, describes a system that only supports connection of a single telephone at a time to a central terminal to download stored call information.
  • U.S. Patent Number 5,325,418, entitled Cellular telephone Accounting System relgtes to the some type of cellulor telephone system, but ollows connection of multiple telephones over multiple terminols simultgneously.
  • the mobile telephones record ond store the immediate event information available at the time a call is made.
  • the telephones store the call time and date, called telephone number, and call duration as the event, and the dgtg relgted to the event.
  • the rentol of mobile telephones for short term or temporary use.
  • the pre-pay approach in rental transgctions is generally preferred gs it permits the pgyment to be pre-qualified and, in-effect, guaranteed.
  • a general purpose of this invention is to enable a mobile telephone to operate and, with associated central station computer software, be reconfigur ⁇ ble to operate in ⁇ number of different roles that permit a variety of different cost management, accounting, and usage control objectives as may occur in diverse circumstonces.
  • the firmware program provides for the storage of a plurality of function profiles, with each of the function profiles defining a respective predetermined set of enabled functions out of a set of enableable functions implementable by the execution of the firmware program.
  • the firmware program further supports programmable selection of a predetermined one of the function profiles and thus define the function of the mobile handset.
  • the present invention may also provide for the mobile telephone to operate as part of a mobile telephone management system that further includes a host computer system including a datg transceiver gnd g predetermined application program executable by the host computer system.
  • the firmware program implements a plurality of executable call management routines that can generate and store data descriptive of the operation of the mobile telephone.
  • the micro-controller system is coupleable to the host computer system for the exchange of the descriptive data and mobile telephone configuration data.
  • the host computer system provides the configuration data to select a predetermined one of the executable call management routines for execution by the micro-controller and, in turn, to provide the descriptive data.
  • the configuration data may further be specified by the host computer system to selectively enable a set of two or more of the executable call management routines for execution by the micro-controller system.
  • the configuration data may be used to qualify the execution of the call management routines and to determine, at least in part, the content of the descriptive data collected by the micro-controller system.
  • the configuration data may also contoin g predetermined collection of dotg thgt is then gvgilable for reference in the execution of the executable call management routines.
  • an advantage of the present invention is that a mobile telephone, implementing the present invention, can be configured to variously provide access to different telecommunications functions and features and to collect information descriptive of how such functions and features are use.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is that the operation of the mobile telephone can be configured and controlled through a base station that executes an application program.
  • This application program performs the dual function of supporting the selection and programming of configuration data into a mobile telephone and retrieving and processing the descriptive data into a form that is usgble, pgrticularly as a business report of the mobile telephone's usage.
  • the configuration data can be used not only to enable particular telecommunications functions of the mobile telephone, but also to tailor the particular executed implementation of such telecommunications functions. This tailoring may be chosen to correspond, for example, to the particular mission objectives of the mobile telephone's subsequent use, to the requirements of a particular user, or the constraints defined by the owner or operator of the mobile telephone.
  • An additional advantage of the present invention is that the configuration data may also be used to tailor the collection of the descriptive data collected.
  • the desired accounting of the use of the mobile telephone is flexibly definable in conjunction with the selected enablement and qualification of the available telecommunications functions implemented by the mobile telephone.
  • Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the collection of the descriptive data occurs in real-time with respect to the real-time use of the mobile telephone. All data thgt can be collected automatically, such as called number and duration, is collected transparently to the user. The collection of additional data, such as the actual called party, can be selectively enforced in real-time through qualification of the execution of the various telecommunications functions, i.e., use is permitted only if some minimum set of additional data determined by the configuration data is entered through the telephone keypad. Such real-time enforced collection of data results in the acquisition of a most detailed and comprehensive data-set, which is then available subsequently for analysis and reporting by the call management base station.
  • the collection data may be gugmented by the inclusion of, for exomple, vgrious mission specific ond user specific collections of informotion in the configuration dotg programmed into the mobile telephone.
  • These collections of dotg cgn thus be gaccessed in regl-time within the mobile telephone to supplement, odd to, ond quglify the collected data.
  • the collections of data may include telephone number/called party lists, billing account lists, billing category lists, and the like that can be accessed in combination and in real-time to provided detailed descriptive data that is then stored by the mobile telephone for subsequent processing by the base station.
  • a yet further advantage of the present invention is that only modest requirements are placed on the design of conventional mobile telephones in order to support the implementation of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 shows the basic structure of a mobile telephone with the capabilities for function, application, and user profile loading; Debit/Pre- Paid, Rental and Call Management call information storage; Program operation with User/Phone Command Interface; and Local/Remote DTMF communication with a computer;
  • Figure 2 shows the local communication link between the mobile telephone and a computer using the telephone's peripheral port connected directly to the computer's RS-232 seriol dgtg port vio a data cable, or by placing the telephone into a base unit that connects between the telephone's peripheral port and the computer;
  • Figure 3 shows the remote communication link between the telephone and the computer using the DTMF or touch-tone signaling capabilities within the telephone;
  • Figure 4 shows the telephone equipped with ⁇ modem for remote information downloading and/or programming instead of using the DTMF transceiver and the link to the computer-
  • Figure 5(a) is a block diagram of a function profile download from the computer to the mobile telephone;
  • Figure 5(b) shows the detoils for a Debit/Pre- Pa id call function profile
  • Figure 5(c) shows the details for a rental function profile
  • Figure 5(d) shows the details for a call management function profile
  • Figure 6(a) is a block diagram of a call manggement gpplicgtion profile downlood between the computer ond the mobile telephone which shows the details for the call management application profile of tracking and controlling mobile call usage;
  • Figure 6(b) shows the details of a call management application profile for billing calls such as in legal applications
  • Figure 7 is an example of a user profile structure under the call management function
  • Figure 8 (a-g) demonstrates the user command structure for operation of the telephone under the call management function, and wherein Figure 8(a) shows the basic mobile telephone display, Figure 8(b) shows dialing the telephone using the two-digit index code, Figure
  • FIG. 8(c) shows dialing the telephone in the normal method of entering a number and pushing the SEND key
  • Figure 8(d) shows dialing the telephone from the call management telephone directory
  • Figure 8(e) shows dialing from the telephone directory with online edit of caller name or billing category
  • Figure 8(f) shows incoming call classification utilizing the telephone directory or user provided information
  • Figure 8(g) shows manually adding information to the telephone if allowed by the user profile
  • Figure 9 is a flow chart of the function profile download software running on the computer; ond Figure 10 displ g ys the structure of the coll mgnagement software that loads the application and user profiles into the telephone and generates the call reports from the information downlooded from the telephone.
  • the present invention provides for a comprehensive call management system that is particularly suited for managing the use of mobile telephones.
  • the present invention effectively implements a true call cost and billing system that operates directly and in real-time to gather the substantial additional information necessary to support true call cost billing.
  • This additionol informotion, while gothered in regl-time is, in gccord with the present invention, then stored into the mobile telephone pending subsequent uplood to o bgse computer system for detailed analysis and processing as necessary or appropriate for billing costs based on the actual use of the mobile telephone.
  • the present invention also recognizes and addresses the need or at least desire to enable g pgrticulgr mobile telephone to be programmed in a number of different ways, thus operate in a number of different roles, depending upon differing requirement for internal call accounting, the mission use of a particular mobile telephone, and the nature or activity of the person that is using the mobile telephone.
  • a lawyer using a mobile telephone to track client calls for direct billing purposes might use the telephone and supported accounting functions in o much different wgy thgn when g mobile telephone is checked out to a Government employee to use for official business.
  • Mobile telephones are widely used by public agencies such as police departments, but at present there is no capability to control the telephone usage or to associate telephone usage to a particular person, department or budget. In many cases, local governments have disallowed mobile telephone usage for this reason, but that is not an acceptable solution.
  • the present invention provides for a mobile telephone that can control its own usage as well as associate each call to a particular budget category.
  • a new hierarchicgl dgtg structure is used to track multiple sets of information internal to the mobile telephone.
  • the mobile telephone is provided with the capability to associate calls with specific categories of call, simplistically such as between "allowed" business or agency calls and personal or unauthorized calls.
  • Categories of calls are, in turn, associated with usage limitations so that possibly a certain amount of personal calls would be accepted, but the us ⁇ ge limited to some preset amount, perhaps identified as some combined duration of local and long distance calls, whereas business or agency related calls might have no such duration restrictions. Conversely, however, any business or agency can additionally require that the call be associated with a particular budget, department or project before the call is actually dialed.
  • An existing mobile telephone design, or one modified to implement the present invention can be set up to support any number of possible functions by loading a telephone function profile into the executable memory space of the telephone.
  • This function profile not only includes support for all of the necessary normal telephone operations, but also adds or enables features to implement the present invention.
  • a mobile telephone configured with a particular function profile may configure the mobile telephone to be a debit/pre- pa id mobile telephone, a rental mobile telephone or a call cost management and billing controlled mobile telephone.
  • the chosen mobile telephone role can be subsequently changed or modified as determined by the then downloaded function profile.
  • the debit/pre-paid role would enable a mobile telephone of the present invention with the capability to self-deactivate unless and until activated or reactivated by the base station computer software.
  • g customer for the mobile telephone would poy in gdvgnce for o set gmount of telephone usage.
  • the telephone when activated, keeps track of eoch call into or out of the telephone, its duration and its type, i.e., local, roaming (operation out of the local mobile telephone service area), long distance or international.
  • An internal mathematical algorithm computes the dollar amount spent for each call and compares it to the pre-p ⁇ id amount originally purchased. When the maximum amount is reached, the telephone is deactivated until more time is purchased.
  • a second role type is that of a rental mobile telephone.
  • the telephone is programmed with the capability to track the time, date, duration, called number if an outgoing call, or caller ID for an incoming call, and call type (local, roaming, long distance, or international) for each call made by or to the mobile telephone.
  • call type local, roaming, long distance, or international
  • any call limitations such as an international call restriction may be programmed into the telephone as part of the function profile.
  • the call transactions are downloaded into the base system computer and the software program calculates the amount of rental fees required. These fees may then be charged on a credit card, which may be used to secure the rental at the outset, or paid for by any other acceptable means. If the user requires a detailed call transaction report as part of the receipt, the software can generate this from the call transaction data supplied by the telephone.
  • a third role and perhaps the primary operating embodiment desired to be supported by the present invention, is the capability to operate the mobile telephone in the call cost management and billing control role. This role allows the telephone to be used in a substantially normal manner, i.e., as a standard mobile telephone.
  • the telephone function is enhanced, however, to include a set of functions for call tracking, call monitoring, and billing as determined by the preprogrammed function profile.
  • the telephone is progr ⁇ mmed with the capability to handle an extensive directory of telephone numbers that can be directly correlated with called party ngmes, gccounts, budgets, ond project numbers.
  • the stort cgll time gnd dgte, end cgll time g nd dgte, telephone number dialed or Caller ID (if enabled by the function profile and the usage in an area where Caller ID is avail g ble), g ctu g l p g rty to which the conversotion tokes plgce, gnd the gccount, budget or project associated with this call is recorded as a transaction for each call. Any number may be dialed from the telephone's directory, or manually dialed in the normal manner. If a telephone number is manually dialed, the telephone will automatically try and link the number to one already stored in the internal directory.
  • the user is provided with the opportunity to enter new identification information as to called party and applicable account for the call cost tracking or later call billing.
  • the start and end time and date, the dialed number or incoming flag gnd the cgll type is preferably stored for oil cglls reggrdless of the other informotion entered.
  • the present invention ollows the calls to be completely tracked automatically from a pre-loaded directory or adds the capability for manual entry.
  • the telephone may also be loaded with a call restriction database or data collection.
  • This option of the function profile preferably establishes a control basis defining whether the user is allowed to make international or long distance calls, the amount of personal call minutes that the user is allowed to make, and whether non-categorized calls will be billed as personal calls or whether the mobile telephone will force the user to identify from the existing telephone stored data or enter called pgrty gnd ⁇ ccount information for all calls made and received by the mobile telephone.
  • a preferred aspect of the invention is the provision to download a sub- profile for that effectively serves to characterize the particular role established by the function profile.
  • Call cost control for a government agency trying to control the usage of mobile telephones is an entirely different application than that of an attorney wanting to track calls in order to bill clients for the time spent on the mobile telephone.
  • the first use might require that the telephone be deactivated until a user checks the telephone out from a central source. Thus, upon checkout, the telephone is activated for a set amount of time for this particular user.
  • the sub- profile may be used to require that the user identify all calls, i.e., if the user mgkes g cgll thgt cgn not be correloted to on entry in g resident telephone directory data collection, the user must enter the missing information to keep the telephone active for the next call.
  • a received call would require some additional manual entry, but could be supported by Caller ID if available.
  • Call accounts for personal calls may be supported by the sub-profile, though potentially with effective cost or call duration limitations, to allow for some flexibility in the telephone's usage, but still allow for effective cost controls to be enforced.
  • This sub-profile can be flexibly specified such that, in a legal billing application for example, the sub-profile would not necessarily enforce the many controls available. Rather, the sub-profile might be designed to enable and support, through ease-of-use, the tracking of calls for billing purposes. Consequently, a potential attorney-user would be able to readily use the mobile telephone as a standard telephone, with no enforced controls over type of dialing or whether calls are personal or not. Yet, the ability and largely automatic support for the tracking and correlating calls for client billing purposes would be immediately provided by the mobile telephone.
  • a sub-profile or "application profile” can preferably be programmed into the mobile telephone to establish application parameters that serve to further characterize the operation of the mobile telephone of the present invention within the role established by the function profile.
  • the present invention further encompasses, for a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the programming of the mobile telephone with an additional sub-profile, designated as g "user profile.”
  • g user profile
  • o mobile phone programmed with function ond gpplicgtion profiles, on gdditional level of profiling can be programmed to enable the mobile telephone to fit the needs, or restrict the needs, of the particular user that will operate the telephone.
  • operating parameters for the particular user are downloaded into the mobile telephone when the telephone is checked out or provided on a long-term or permanent basis.
  • the user profile might contain the call controls and enable options for that particular user, such gs further specifying the gmount of personal calls thgt cgn be mgde or whether and when the telephone billing directory containing the numbers available in the mobile telephone data collections may be updated or extended this particular user.
  • the user profile can also include a user's own personal telephone directory and set of billing accounts. This allows a relatively complete set of "likely" used data-set records to be present in the telephone. The ability to internally record links between records to record actual uses allows the available internal telephone memory to be used with greater efficiency.
  • the user profile may be used to enable a connection through the communications port of the mobile telephone to a personal digital assistant (PDA).
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • a PDA or other computer device could be used variously to review and appropriately revise call transaction records, provide a convenient interface to revise the user telephone directory and related information, and potentially off-load call transaction records as back-up storage or alternate transfer to the base station computer system.
  • the communications port and operation of the present invention can also be effectively used to accurately record categorize calls for mobile telephone modem usoge.
  • PDAs can be easily configured to prefix telephone numbers with DTMF encoded information.
  • the user profile of the present invention can be used to enable the recognition of such coded information, particularly as directives of how to account for a particular call, when a computer connection is made through the mobile telephone communications port.
  • These three roles and their corresponding function profiles for the mobile telephone are but examples of the potential of the present invention.
  • the present invention contemplates using a mobile telephone constructed as required to embody the present invention and nominally configured with a function profile that enables no more than normal telephone operation.
  • Any function profile configuration subsequently programmed into the mobile telephone then defines, at a minimum, the role of the telephone and, further through sub-profiles, the v ⁇ rious limitations and constraints to be exercised by the telephone in that role.
  • the programming of the sub-function profiles may further incorporate data collections that can be specific to the user, the function profile determined role of the mobile telephone, or both. These data collections are available to support both automatic and manual information entry in support of the acquisition and characterization of usage information.
  • the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a mobile telephone data structure that includes a mobile telephone configuration layer, which determines the operating role of the mobile telephone, a communications function layer, which controls or qualifies the nature of the operation of the mobile telephone in its selected operating role, and a user layer, which provides typically user specific data useful in helping or supplementing the association of call categories and accounts with particular calls.
  • a mobile telephone configuration layer which determines the operating role of the mobile telephone
  • a communications function layer which controls or qualifies the nature of the operation of the mobile telephone in its selected operating role
  • a user layer which provides typically user specific data useful in helping or supplementing the association of call categories and accounts with particular calls.
  • the potential manufacturer of rental or controlled usage mobile telephones can sell mobile telephones implemented in accordance with the present invention into situations requiring quite different telephone roles without needing to support specific, and different, mobile phones for each role.
  • the service provider who must stock mobile telephones for rental, lease, or sale for different roles need only stock mobile phones implementing the present invention to meet the fluxuating needs of their users.
  • the programmability of function profiles thus enables mobile telephones constructed in accordance with the present invention to be viewed as a unique "generic" and cost effective means of providing mobile telephones in ⁇ wide variety of usage roles and, further, that cgn be finely tgilored to the user's and supplier's requirements.
  • the internal microprocessor that normally controls the available telephone functions must be of sufficient capability and include enough program memory to add the cost control/billing/profiling firmware of the present invention to the otherwise existing telephone control functions; 2) an appropriate part of the existing telephone program must be stored in flash or other such memory that cgn be reprogrammed to integrate with the added cost control/billing/profiling firmware of the present invention;
  • EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
  • the mobile phone should have an adequate display for presenting information to the user, such as a two-line (plus ICON line), though preferably a 3 line (plus ICON line) liquid crystal or similar type display is preferred.
  • a mobile telephone that has been designed to meet the requirements of the present invention is the NSA2010 mobile telephone, manufactured by Niigata Seimitsu of Japan.
  • a particular example is the Nextel il OOO, manufactured for Nextel by Motorola.
  • the base station software package to which the mobile telephone communicates runs on a stgtionary computer such as a IBMTMcompatible personal computer running any of the MicrosoftTM WindowsTM operating system, though preferably on Windows 95TM, 98TM, or NTTM .
  • This application software can be implemented as a stand-alone program that presents as a complete mobile call cost management, control and billing system on a single computer or networked group of computer systems.
  • the software application can also be implemented as a software module that links with or is an adjunct to a pre-established software package already running on some base system computer. Such pre-established software packages are conventionally available for adding or enabling the tracking gnd billing Ignd-line telephone type calls through a computer managed PBX telephone system.
  • the interconnection between the mobile telephone and the base station computer con tgke plgce by directly connecting the mobile telephone to the computer through a data cable linking the telephone's peripheral port to the computers serial communications port, putting the telephone into a sepgrate cradle in which the cradle connects to the telephone's peripheral port and also connects to the computer's serial communications port, or over the mobile telephone radio link via DTMF
  • the first and second cases require no additional computer hardware beyond the standard serial communications port.
  • the third case requires a special DTMF transceiver connected between the computer's serial communication port and a standard telephone line, although a plug-in compatible card for the computer bus could also be used.
  • the fourth case requires that the computer be connected to a standard data modem compatible with the modem chip inside of the mobile telephone.
  • the base station oppliootion softwear of the present invention includes the softwore modules to structure, enter data, and download the function, application and user profiles into an appropriately connected mobile telephone.
  • This software may be differently structured based on the role that the application is intended to support, i.e., selectively includes support for configuring profiles for only selected roles that can be implemented by the mobile telephone of the present invention.
  • a largely conventional Debit/Pre-Pay software pgckgge might be used in support of the corresponding roles of the mobile telephone, though with the addition of the role configuration and related modules needed to program the mobile telephone of the present invention.
  • the software application would appear to be a standard or third-party stand- alone application supporting a discrete mobile telephone role or roles.
  • Figure 2 shows the connection between the mobile telephone and the base station computer for direct connect information retrievol from the telephone and for programming the telephone with profiles from the computer.
  • This connection may be made with a direct connect cable between the telephone's peripheral port and the computer's serial communication port or the telephone may be placed in a cradle that performs the equivalent function.
  • the use of the cradle is to provide ease of connection for the telephone users.
  • the communication link is an RS-232 serial data link operating at 4800 baud, but this link could be established using other types of link speeds or types, including for example, infra-red and low- power, short range wireless links.
  • Figure 3 shows the equivalent connection made remotely via the Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF or Touch-tone) signaling capabilities of the telephone.
  • the mobile telephone of the present invention has the capability to receive as well as transmit DTMF signals. These signals are controlled by the telephone's central microprocessor.
  • a connection between the telephone and the remote computer may be made from the telephone by dialing the computer's access telephone number from the mobile telephone or from the computer by dialing the mobile telephone's number.
  • the function profile initially downloaded to the telephone from the computer contains the oper ⁇ ting code for controlling the DTMF remote link. This is shown as one of the downloaded functions in Figures 5(b), 5(c), and 5(d).
  • the speciol DTMF Encode/Decode Unit shown in Figure 3 automatically answers the telephone, communicates to the computer that a telephone is attempting access and sets up a direct link between the telephone and the computer by decoding the telephone's DTMF signals to standard ASCII computer data and encoding the computer's ASCII data to DTMF signals for the telephone side. Once this connection is made, the telephone automatically sends its ID and any other access information required to the computer. If the computer accepts access, the link is fully established and data from the telephone may be downloaded to the computer, or the telephone's internal data may be remotely programmed by the computer.
  • the ID and access information is used to insure that only pre- programmed telephones from the respective computer initial telephone setup may remotely access the computer.
  • the same type of link takes place when the computer calls the telephone.
  • the telephone checks the access information and ID to prevent unauthorized users from changing the telephone's stored information.
  • Figure 4 shows the equivalent communication link using a modem instead of the DTMF signaling.
  • an internal modem is included in the basic design of the telephone or an external modem may be connected via the telephone's peripheral data port.
  • the overall function is the same, i.e., remote information download to the computer or remote telephone programming modification by the computer.
  • a modem will usually offer much higher data throughput rates than the DTMF signal channel.
  • Figure 5( ⁇ ) shows the mobile telephone being programmed with ⁇ function profile. These function profiles alter the basic use of the telephone by enhancing the telephone's internal program structure.
  • the function profile loaded into the telephone includes the following program database structures and algorithms for each function profile role:
  • Cgll Summgry Dgtgbgse Stores running total of elapsed time for outgoing and incoming calls, call type (no charge, i.e., 91 1 type, local, roaming, long distance, international), bill code for call type (areg code or country code for long distance and international calls).
  • Call type no charge, i.e., 91 1 type, local, roaming, long distance, international
  • bill code for call type areg code or country code for long distance and international calls.
  • Area Code Exclusion Database Stores up to 15 area codes that will be classified with a call type as local instead of long distance. This allows 800 type number dialing or local calling in which area codes must be used, but cost is charged on a local call basis. Database structure is loaded under the function profile while actual numbers are loaded under the user profile, i.e., local rental company profile.
  • Remote DTMF or Modem access program as described above.
  • Directory structure is loaded under function profile while actual directory numbers are loaded under user profile, i.e. local rental company profile.
  • Customer Limitation Flags Stores maximum allowed daily usage in minutes, maximum allowed call minutes, maximum number of calls allowed, long distance dialing allowed flag, international dialing allowed flag, minute roundup threshold (number of seconds over a minute that will cause the call duration to be rounded to the next minute).
  • Flag and Limit structure is loaded under the function profile while actual flags and limits are loaded under a user profile, i.e. local rental company profile.
  • No Call Charge Database A list of numbers for which no charges will be applied. These are usually emergency numbers such as 91 1 , the rental service's telephone number or the remote computer access number.
  • Area Code Exclusion Database Stores up to 15 area codes that will be classified with a call type as local instead of long distance. This allows 800 type number dialing or local calling in which area codes must be used, but cost is charged on a local call basis.
  • Database structure is loaded under the function profile while actual numbers are loaded under the user profile, i.e. local rentgl compony profile.
  • Remote DTMF or Modem access program as described above.
  • Call Transaction Database Stores start time/date, end time/date, telephone number or incoming call flag, type of call (local, roaming, long distance, international), called party name alpha descriptor and billing code for each call on the system.
  • Phone Directory Database Stores quick dial numbers which include telephone number, alpha descriptor for the number, alpha descriptor for default billing code and billing code. Sorted alphanumerically with fast search control. Fast Search Control is defined ⁇ s the user capability to enter an alpha digit or digits on the telephone keypad to quickly reach a range of alpha descriptors in the directory. Directory structure is loaded under function profile while Actual directory numbers are loaded under a user profile, i.e. the person checking out the telephone. c.
  • Billing Code Databgse Stores billing code alpha descriptors and billing codes. This database structure is loaded under the function profile, but the actual data is loaded under the application and user profiles.
  • Emergency Number Database Emergency numbers that may be dialed in spite of the user going over exceeded telephone usage limits programmed into the telephone.
  • Called Party and Billing Allocation Algorithm Dialing from the telephone directory will automatically link a call transaction to the alpha descriptor and the default billing code associated with this number in the directory. Manual dialing of any telephone number will search the database to try to automatically link the dialed number with a telephone directory listing in order to add the alpha descriptor and billing code to the call transaction.
  • Incoming calls and manually dialed calls not in the telephone directory allow an alpha descriptor to be entered by manuglly scgnning the telephone directory (for cases in which the name and billing code is in the telephone directory, but the party was reached at a different number) or manually by entering from the keypad.
  • the billing code may be entered for these type of calls by selecting an alpha descriptor or billing code from the Billing Code Database.
  • User Database Operation Program The control program that supervises that in effect executes the function profile, and m ⁇ n ⁇ ges user interface when the mobile telephone is operated in the Call Management mode.
  • Flags Stores maximum allowed daily usage in minutes, maximum allowed call minutes, maximum number of calls allowed, long distance dialing allowed flag, international dialing allowed flag, minute roundup threshold (number of seconds over a minute that will cause the call duration to be rounded to the next minute), maximum personal call usage in minutes, flag for billing unclassified calls as personal, flag forcing entry of billing code and called party link to each call before next call is allowed (if this assignment can be done automatically by the system with the telephone directory link).
  • Flag and Limit structure is loaded under the function profile while actual flags and limits are loaded under either the application or user profile.
  • Area Code Exclusion Database Stores up to 15 area codes that will be classified with a call type as local instead of long distance.
  • Dgtgbgse structure is oded under the function profile while octugl numbers gre loaded under the user profile.
  • i Remote DTMF or Modem access program as described above.
  • j Secure access information and telephone ID for access to the remote computer by the telephone or access of the telephone by the remote computer.
  • k Normal telephone operation functions.
  • Restricted telephone operation functions Restricts telephone functions and their operation under the downloaded user profile, i.e., no international dialing or billing code modifications allowed, for example. Supports and enforces the conditional constraints under which the user can add to or edit the telephone directory database. Nominally provides support for the user to select billing codes and billing alpha descriptors from the billing code database for call transaction allocation and prevents the user from changing or editing this database.
  • two application profiles will be described in connection with the Call Management function profile defined role. The first, as shown in Figure 6(a), is a Call Tracking and Control application.
  • the Call Tracking and Control application is a Call Tracking and Control application.
  • Management function profile is used to track all calls made from or received by a particular mobile telephone with the purpose of accounting for the calls that are made and restricting the usage of the telephone to limits set, for example, globally by a function profile or specifically in an accompanying user profile.
  • An example of this type of application might be usage of the telephone by a government or law enforcement person.
  • the primary requirement is to provide mobile telephone usage to the employee, but at the same time be able to track all of the calls made so that they can be allocated to the correct budget category for the employee's department.
  • personal limits are enforced to prevent problems with excessive personal calls or international calls that could easily affect individual budgets adversely.
  • Coll management function profile data structures the following additional application profile data structures are programmed into the mobile telephone of the present invention:
  • the user can be restricted to dialing the telephone from the telephone directory Database.
  • the only exception allowed is billing to the def ⁇ ult category.
  • the default category is the Personal Category, the Unknown Call Category or the Non-billed Category whichever is selected as default under this particular user profile.
  • the rest of the call transaction data includes the time/date of the call, the duration of the call and the type of call, reviewede., roaming, long distance, international, or other.
  • All incoming calls in this application mode force the user to link the call to a called party or account. This moy be selected from the telephone directory or entered monually if the information is not in the telephone directory. If it is entered manually or if the information is not entered in, the call is automatically billed to the default account, i.e.,
  • Limits can be set on the total number of minutes that the telephone can be used, the total time the telephone can be checked out, the total amount of personal time allotted, the use of long distance or international dialing, and others. In general, this sort of application lends itself to apply call transaction information to budget categories, project categories, etc. and at the same time control telephone usage so that no overruns appear later as large problems.
  • FIG. 6(b) A second preferred type of application profile is shown in Figure 6(b).
  • the calls are tracked for actual client billing purposes such as with legal applications.
  • Attorneys normally use automatic telephone billing programs on their land-line based telephones to track and bill their clients for telephone calls made on their behalf.
  • This tracking, and thus billing can not be done on a cellular telephone at this time without trying to decipher the required information from the month-end cellular bill.
  • More often than not this bill does not contain the information required to bill the client, i.e., it is missing such information as the actual party called at a particular number and any reference to what type of call it was and how it should be billed. For this reason, many law firms do not bill clients for cellular placed calls because they have no backup for what the call was about and what type of billing to charge.
  • the invention changes fundamental aspects of this scenario.
  • all of the necessary information to bill a call to a client account is available for every call. This includes not only the number dialed and the time/date and duration of the call, but the actual called party to be billed and the billing category under which the billing should take place, i.e., for an attorney, was the call direct legal work, a call on a client's behalf, or other billable use of the telephone.
  • all of these calls can actually be billed to a particular account with automatically calculated charges and documented backup. Furthermore, all non- bill ⁇ ble calls such as personal calls or non-charge calls can be tracked and allocated to the correct internal budgets within the law firm.
  • the Call Mgnggement softwear preferably supports for the creation of individual user profiles that can then be downloaded into the mobile telephone of the present invention and used to further qualify the executed operation of the telephone based on the function and application profiles.
  • a preferred user profile is outlined in Figure 7 and, in general, defines constraints and adds additional collection data to the function and application profiles.
  • a user profile can be programmed with the following information:
  • User Telephone Directory Database Normally a complete telephone directory for a large company or project would be much too large to store within the mobile telephone's limited memory. The user profile may allocate information from the telephone directory that is utilized by that specific user to the user profile that is downloaded into the telephone. Thus, a limited version of the telephone directory, but one containing the information required by this user, is stored in the telephone. 2.
  • User Billing Code Database This is the entire billing code category database set up within the Call Management software. This allows the user to select billing categories for each telephone call tr ⁇ ns ⁇ ction in which the billing is not automatically selected by using the telephone directory for dialing.
  • Default Billing Preference This is the default billing for all calls that the internal telephone software can not classify. It is set within the Call Management software on the computer for this user. Possible defaults are Unknown, Personal and No- Billing.
  • Call Restrictions Primary user restrictions at this time are long distance dialing or international dialing. If these flags are set, the user is not allowed to dial the respective type of call. Other possible restrictions may be added. 6. Amount of Personal Time Allowed: This is number of minutes of personal calls that a user is allowed on a daily basis. If the amount is exceeded, the user is only allowed to dial from the telephone directory with preset billing allocation or to dial from the emergency number list. Incoming calls require manual billing allocation by the user if Caller ID is not activated. If Caller ID is activated the telephone will select the billing allocation from the telephone directory if possible, otherwise manual entry is forced. A maximum value entry of 65536 is preferably interpreted as allowing unlimited time. A zero entry does not allow the user to make personal calls outside of the available entries in the Telephone Directory or the Emergency Number List.
  • Phone Activation Period This is the number of days that the telephone will be active. If this is exceeded, the user must recheck out the telephone to re- ⁇ ctiv ⁇ te it or use the emergency number listing to connect to the remote computer for re- ⁇ ctiv ⁇ tion (if this has been set up).
  • a maximum value entry of 65536 is preferably interpreted as allowing unlimited time.
  • Maximum Allowed Call Minutes This is the maximum number of minutes of call time that the user is allowed for any telephone checkout period.
  • a maximum value entry of 65536 is preferably interpreted as allowing unlimited usage.
  • Personal Billing Code This is the billing allocation for all personal calls for this user.
  • These user profiles are set up in the Call Management software on the base station computer. When a telephone is checked out to a particular user, the respective user profile is loaded into the telephone. Alternately, various levels of profiles can be established earlier with just a selection of a particular profile being performed at the time the mobile telephone is checked out to a particular user.
  • a user may dial a number on the mobile telephone in several ways. These include: 1 . Enter the two digit code (00-99) for the telephone directory listing;
  • Figure 8(b) shows the display on the telephone when a user enters a two digit code for dialing. As soon as the two digit code is entered the display indicates the telephone directory entry that was selected. The user pushes the SEND key on the telephone to dial the number.
  • Figure 8(c) shows the user dialing the telephone in a normal manner with no help from the telephone directory System.
  • the user just manually enters a telephone number and pushes the SEND key to dial.
  • the entered number is displayed as the numbers are selected.
  • the telephone will automatically determine if the entered number is in its telephone directory. If it is, the telephone directory information as to Called Party and Billing Code will be added to the call transaction report for this call. If the number is not in the telephone directory, the call transaction will use the default listing for a non-classified call, i.e. Personal, Unknown or Non-Billed.
  • Figure 8(d) shows the display while the user is dialing from the telephone directory.
  • Telephone directory dialing is activated by pushing the MEM key or other equivalent key on the telephone (this key may change depending upon the telephone).
  • Telephone directory selection may be done by scrolling from the first directory entry using the scroll forward (V) or backward ( ⁇ ) keys (actual keys may differ depending upon the telephone).
  • any alpha/numeric key on the telephone's keyp ⁇ d may be pushed to start the telephone directory scrolling at that alphabetic listing in the directory.
  • the SEND key is pushed to dial the number.
  • the basic telephone display illustrates what a user preferably sees when scrolling through the telephone directory to select a number to dial.
  • the Billing Code Designator displays as a 9 character name for a particular Billing Code.
  • the corresponding numeric Billing Code might be shown by, for example, pushing the MEM or other designated key on the mobile telephone.
  • a user may also dial the telephone and manually enter/select the
  • An incoming call generally cannot be automatically classified unless Caller ID is activated for the telephone. This may not be available on some mobile telephone systems or may not be activated. If Caller ID is active, the information will be used to link a call to the telephone directory or to at least add the Calling Party name to the Call Transaction Data. In the case that Caller ID is not available, the user may enter the required information using the process shown in Figure 8(f). Again, the user may only select the Billing Code for this call if the correct flag is set in their profile. Otherwise the default billing will be applied. The user may decide not to enter any call data by just pushing the END key for a second time. This keeps the operation of the telephone as close to normal as possible for users that want to bypass the detailed information call transaction process for incoming calls.
  • any incoming coll thgt cgn not be classified will be categorized under the default category.
  • Some users may be able to add new telephone directory listings directly on the telephone via the keypad. This is allowed only if the Add Flag is set within the user profile.
  • Figure 8(g) shows the preferred process for adding an entry to the telephone directory from the telephone's keypad if it is allowed. Again, Billing Code data must be selected from the available codes in the telephone.
  • any new information entered into the telephone manually by the user will automatically be recognized by the Call Management software on the base station computer when the call transaction data is downloaded during telephone check-in.
  • New data is preferably flagged by the software, providing the base station system operator with the capability of adding the data to the main system on a permanent basis, or just for the particular call transaction.
  • the telephone management application software running on the base system computer may operate in different modes depending on the particular capabilities of a particular mobile telephone constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the management application also preferably prepares a package of executable routines, as needed to support an accompanying function profile, for download and programming into the mobile telephone.
  • these executable routines including those needed to support a variety of different function profiles, can be initially programmed into the mobile telephone. In the former circumstance, the mobile telephone is essentially "blank" until both the function profile and corresponding executable routines are loaded. In this latter circumstance, only a new function profile is needed to establish the role of the loaded, yet still effectively "blank" telephone.
  • the present invention permits the management application to be presented as either two separate application packages or as a single application that combines the function of the two application packages.
  • the first application package is responsible for preparing and linking, as appropriate, the various combinations of executable routines that are to be programmed into a mobile telephone of the present invention.
  • the second application package is responsible for constructing a function profile that is supportable by a particular blank mobile telephone. That is, the firmware needed to establish a role as, for example, a pre-paid telephone, rental telephone, or call management controlled telephone could be downloaded into the mobile phone at, for example, a telephone distribution facility or telephone manufacturing site to establish, before being shipped to a customer or service provider, the scope of available roles and features that may be subsequently configured into the mobile telephone's operation.
  • the user or service provider can then subsequently execute the second application package to prepare function profiles, within the scope of the executable routines available, and create application and user profiles for programming into the mobile telephone.
  • the available scope of executable routines can be limited by software flags, set in connection with the factory configuration of particular mobile telephones for p ⁇ rticul ⁇ r users or service providers, thus making a blank mobile telephone appear to lack some set of the executable routines.
  • the user or service provider who operates the single application performs both the loading of executable routines, to the extent required, and the configuration of a corresponding function profile.
  • the additional configuration of application and user profiles is also supported by the single application.
  • the management software application executed by the base station computer can also implement or interface with billing and accounting software in conjunction with the Call Management control role.
  • the transaction data collected by the mobile telephone and collected and processed by the management software allows not only detailed paper reports to be prepared, but also detailed reporting data to be further utilized in conventional billing and const management systems.
  • a general block diagram of this software process is shown in Figure 10.
  • the call transaction information is displayed, checked, and potentially edited by the operator.
  • An electronic report of the transactions may be forwarded to a financial accounting system.
  • a transaction report might be presented to the user for checking as well.
  • the check-in relevgnt information, as well perhaps as the call transaction information is then added to the database managed by the base station application.
  • transaction data to edit and report generation can be selected under the following categories: a. All Call Data b. All Personal Calls c. Personal Calls Selected by a Particular User d. Unknown Calls e. Unknown Calls Selected by a Particular User f. Non-billed Calls g. Non-billed Calls Selected by a Particular User h. Calls by a Particular Billing Account i. Calls by a Particular Billing Category j. telephone Check-out Data & telephone Status k. telephone Check-In Data and telephone Status I. Data that has been archived Regarding the preparation of reports by the present invention, an important aspect is that the reports are based on data collected and thereby reflecting the real-time and actual use of the mobile telephone of the present invention.
  • the present invention is a combination of hardware and software that combines and interacts to define and support, when and as needed, the operation of mobile telephones in multiple different roles.
  • the present invention further enables the capture of realtime transaction data, additionally detailed through links to and use of collections of information stored internally by the mobile phone. These abilities are particularly advantageous in supporting a call management and control role that notably enables short-cycle accounting actual-cost billing for the use of the mobile telephone.
  • the ability to pre-establish constraints and enforce actual limits on the usage of the mobile telephone of the present invention is also notably advantageous. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and det ⁇ ils may be made therein without departing from scope and nature of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Meter Arrangements (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à un système souple de gestion de téléphones mobiles qui peut être mis en oeuvre sur un téléphone mobile comportant un combiné mobile, doté de circuits électroniques exécutant une fonction de terminal de communication sans fil, et un système microcontrôleur intégré incluant une mémoire et un micrologiciel. Le micrologiciel met en oeuvre une pluralité de routines exécutables de gestion des appels qui peuvent générer et stocker des données décrivant le fonctionnement du téléphone mobile. Le microcontrôleur peut être couplé à un système informatique hôte permettant l'échange de données descriptives et de données de configuration des téléphones mobiles. Le système informatique hôte fournit les données de configuration qui permettent de sélectionner une routine particulière parmi les routines exécutables de gestion des appels, conçues pour être exécutées par le microcontrôleur et qui, à son tour, fournit les données descriptives. Ces données de configuration peuvent également être spécifiées par le système informatique hôte de façon à activer sélectivement un ensemble d'au moins deux routines parmi les routines exécutables de gestion des appels, conçues pour être exécutées par le microcontrôleur. Ces données de configuration peuvent en outre servir à caractériser l'exécution des routines de gestion des appels et à déterminer, au moins en partie, le contenu des données descriptives recueillies par le système microcontrôleur. Ces données de configuration peuvent également contenir une collecte de données qui peuvent ensuite servir de référence pour l'exécution des routines exécutables de gestion des appels.
PCT/US2000/009436 1999-04-16 2000-04-06 Gestion des couts d'appels et controle de facturation integres a un telephone mobile WO2000064139A2 (fr)

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AU43352/00A AU4335200A (en) 1999-04-16 2000-04-06 Call cost management and billing control integrated with a mobile telephone

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US09/293,616 1999-04-16

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002071219A2 (fr) * 2001-03-07 2002-09-12 Matchtip Limited Systeme de stockage de donnees
WO2003090438A1 (fr) * 2002-04-16 2003-10-30 Robert Walker Procede de production d'enregistrement d'appel detaille convivial

Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0647055A1 (fr) * 1993-10-04 1995-04-05 AT&T Corp. Système de gestion de taxation pour téléphonie cellulaire
US5577100A (en) * 1995-01-30 1996-11-19 Telemac Cellular Corporation Mobile phone with internal accounting
US5814798A (en) * 1994-12-26 1998-09-29 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for personal attribute selection and management using prediction

Patent Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0647055A1 (fr) * 1993-10-04 1995-04-05 AT&T Corp. Système de gestion de taxation pour téléphonie cellulaire
US5814798A (en) * 1994-12-26 1998-09-29 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for personal attribute selection and management using prediction
US5577100A (en) * 1995-01-30 1996-11-19 Telemac Cellular Corporation Mobile phone with internal accounting

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002071219A2 (fr) * 2001-03-07 2002-09-12 Matchtip Limited Systeme de stockage de donnees
WO2002071219A3 (fr) * 2001-03-07 2002-10-17 Matchtip Ltd Systeme de stockage de donnees
AU2002238720B2 (en) * 2001-03-07 2005-01-27 Matchtip Limited Data Storage System
WO2003090438A1 (fr) * 2002-04-16 2003-10-30 Robert Walker Procede de production d'enregistrement d'appel detaille convivial

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AU4335200A (en) 2000-11-02

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