Patent US5615408A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5615408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for credit based management of telecommunication activity
Assignee: Authorize Net LLC
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Filing: 1993-10-19
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Granted: 1997-03-25
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Expires: 2013-10-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides an apparatus for credit based management of a telecommunication system. One embodiment of the apparatus includes an interface for communicating credit information on a particular subscriber and for receiving call records for the particular subscriber that are derived from a switch which establishes connections between telecommunication devices. A credit limit device then utilizes the credit information to establish a credit limit for the subscriber. The apparatus also includes a device for comparing the particular subscriber's call usage to a credit limit established for the subscriber based on information obtained from the credit bureau. An output device is used to provide an indication that the subscriber has exceeded their credit limit. Another embodiment of the apparatus, includes a device for, upon expiration of a predetermined time period, contacting the credit bureau to obtain a new credit score for a subscriber and use this score to update the subscriber's credit limit.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric A. Johnson
- 👤 Mark J. Handzel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W12/00; H04W12/06; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/14; H04L63/1408; H04L63/1416; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/41; H04M15/47; H04M15/88; H04M15/887; H04M17/00; H04M3/00; H04M3/38; H04W12/12; H04W12/126; H04L63/1425; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/60; H04M2203/6027; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0116; H04M2215/014; H04M2215/0148; H04M2215/0164; H04M2215/32; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04W60/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
An apparatus for allowing a telecommunication service provider to manage the risk that a subscriber will not pay their bill for use of the provider's telecommunication system comprising: a digital computer; interface means, operating within said digital computer, for communicating information relating to a particular subscriber, said interface means includes a first portion for communicating information relating to said particular subscriber with a credit information source and a second portion for receiving a call information record for each call involving said particular subscriber, said call information record derived from information compiled by a switching center that is capable of establishing connections between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication devices and simultaneously maintaining such connections; credit means, operating within said digital computer, for using said first portion of said interface to obtain a credit score for said particular subscriber and for using said credit score to establish a credit limit for said particular subscriber; analysis means, operating within said digital computer, for receiving each of said call information record for said particular subscriber from said second portion of said interface means and using said call information record to compare call usage of said particular subscriber to said credit limit for said particular subscriber and generate an indication if said call usage of said particular subscriber exceeds said credit limit for said particular subscriber; and output means, operating within said digital computer, for outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that said particular subscriber has exceeded said credit limit for said particular subscriber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
252 words
An apparatus for allowing a telecommunication service provider to manage the risk that a subscriber will not pay their bill for use of the provider's telecommunication system comprising: a digital computer; interface means, operating within said digital computer, for communicating information relating to a particular subscriber, said interface means includes a first portion for communicating information relating to said particular subscriber with a credit information source and a second portion for receiving a call information record for each call involving said particular subscriber, said call information record derived from information compiled by a switching center that is capable of establishing connections between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication devices and simultaneously maintaining such connections; credit means, operating within said digital computer, for using said first portion of said interface to obtain a credit score for said particular subscriber and for using said credit score to establish a credit limit for said particular subscriber; analysis means, operating within said digital computer, for receiving each of said call information record for said particular subscriber from said second portion of said interface means and using said call information record to compare call usage of said particular subscriber to said credit limit for said particular subscriber and generate an indication if said call usage of said particular subscriber exceeds said credit limit for said particular subscriber; and output means, operating within said digital computer, for outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that said particular subscriber has exceeded said credit limit for said particular subscriber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for updating said credit limit for said particular subscriber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for using said first portion of said interface to contact said credit information source and obtain an updated credit score for said particular subscriber and using said updated credit score to update said credit limit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for updating said credit limit periodically.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for using said first portion of said interface to periodically contact said credit information source and obtain an updated credit score for said particular subscriber and using said updated credit score for said particular subscriber to periodically update said credit limit for said particular subscriber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for updating said credit limit after a predetermined period of time and means for changing the length of said predetermined period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for updating said credit limit after a predetermined period of time, using said first portion of said interface to contact said credit information source to obtain an updated credit score for said particular subscriber, and using said updated credit score to change said predetermined period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for translating a plurality of different formats of said credit score into a common format credit score.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for communicating a decreasing credit limit for said particular subscriber to a telecommunication service provider.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit means includes means for retaining a plurality of credit scores associated with said particular subscriber, means for identifying a pattern in said plurality of said credit scores, and means for analyzing said pattern to identify potentially fraudulent telecommunication activity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said credit information source includes a credit bureau.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said analysis means includes means for using a call information record for a call involving said particular subscriber and that is derived from information compiled by a switching center to identify potentially fraudulent call activity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said analysis means includes means for using call information records for calls involving said particular subscriber and that are derived from information compiled by at least one and possibly both of the following: a home switching center and a roaming switching center, to identify potentially fraudulent call activity.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for allowing a telecommunication service provider to manage the risk associated with the payment by a subscriber for use of the provider's telecommunication system comprising: a digital computer; interface means, operating within said digital computer, for communicating information relating to a particular subscriber, said interface means includes a first portion for communicating information relating to said particular subscriber with a credit information source and a second portion for receiving a call information record for each call involving said particular subscriber, said call information record derived from information compiled by a switching center that is capable of establishing connections between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication devices and simultaneously maintaining such connections; credit means, operating within said digital computer, for using said first portion of said interface to obtain a credit score for said particular subscriber, for using said credit score to establish a credit limit for said particular subscriber and for obtaining updated credit scores for said particular subscriber; analysis means, operating within said digital computer, for receiving each of said call information record for said particular subscriber from said second portion of said interface means and using said call information record to compare call usage of said particular subscriber call to said credit limit for said particular subscriber and generate an indication if said call usage of said particular subscriber exceeds said credit limit for said particular subscriber; and output means, operating within said digital computer, for outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that said particular subscriber has exceeded said credit limit for said particular subscriber and outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that an updated credit score for said particular subscriber differs from a prior credit score for said particular subscriber.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for allowing a telecommunication service provider to manage the risk associated with the payment by a subscriber for use of the provider's telecommunication system comprising: a digital computer; interface means, operating within said digital computer, for communicating information relating to a particular subscriber, said interface means includes a first portion for communicating information relating to said particular subscriber with a credit information source and a second portion for receiving a call information record for each call involving said particular subscriber, said call information record derived from information compiled by a switching center that is capable of establishing connections between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication devices and simultaneously maintaining such connections; credit means, operating within said digital computer, for using said first portion of said interface to obtain a credit score for said particular subscriber, for using said credit score to establish a credit limit for said particular subscriber and for obtaining updated credit scores for said particular subscriber; analysis means, operating within said digital computer, for receiving each of said call information record for said particular subscriber from said second portion of said interface means and using said call information record to compare call usage of said particular subscriber call to said credit limit for said particular subscriber and generate an indication if said call usage of said particular subscriber exceeds said credit limit for said particular subscriber; and output means, operating within said digital computer, for outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that said particular subscriber has exceeded said credit limit for said particular subscriber and outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that an updated credit score for said particular subscriber differs from a prior credit score for said particular subscriber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said credit means includes means for using at least one of said updated credit scores to update said credit limit for said particular subscriber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said credit means includes means for updating said credit limit after a predetermined period of time and means for using at least one of said credit scores to change said predetermined period of time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said credit means includes means for communicating a decreasing credit limit for said particular subscriber to a telecommunication service provider.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
302 words
An apparatus for allowing a telecommunication service provider to manage the risk that a subscriber will not pay their bill for use of the provider's telecommunication system comprising: a digital computer; interface means, operating within said digital computer, for communicating information relating to a particular subscriber, said interface means includes a first portion for communicating information relating to said particular subscriber with a credit information source and a second portion for receiving a call information record for each call involving said particular subscriber, said call information record derived from information compiled by a switching center that is capable of establishing connections between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication devices and simultaneously maintaining such connections; credit means, operating within said digital computer, for using said first portion of said interface to obtain a credit score for said particular subscriber and for using said credit score to establish a credit limit for said particular subscriber, and for retaining a plurality of credit scores for said particular subscriber and for using said plurality of credit scores to identify the existence of a credit pattern; analysis means, operating within said digital computer, for receiving each of said call information record for said particular subscriber from said second portion of said interface means and using said call information record to compare call usage of said particular subscriber to said credit limit for said particular subscriber and generate an indication if said call usage of said particular subscriber exceeds said credit limit for said particular subscriber; and output means, operating within said digital computer, for outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that said particular subscriber has exceeded said credit limit for said particular subscriber and for outputting information to the telecommunication service provider indicating the existence of said credit pattern in said plurality of credit scores.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
302 words
An apparatus for allowing a telecommunication service provider to manage the risk that a subscriber will not pay their bill for use of the provider's telecommunication system comprising: a digital computer; interface means, operating within said digital computer, for communicating information relating to a particular subscriber, said interface means includes a first portion for communicating information relating to said particular subscriber with a credit information source and a second portion for receiving a call information record for each call involving said particular subscriber, said call information record derived from information compiled by a switching center that is capable of establishing connections between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication devices and simultaneously maintaining such connections; credit means, operating within said digital computer, for using said first portion of said interface to obtain a credit score for said particular subscriber and for using said credit score to establish a credit limit for said particular subscriber, and for retaining a plurality of credit scores for said particular subscriber and for using said plurality of credit scores to identify the existence of a credit pattern; analysis means, operating within said digital computer, for receiving each of said call information record for said particular subscriber from said second portion of said interface means and using said call information record to compare call usage of said particular subscriber to said credit limit for said particular subscriber and generate an indication if said call usage of said particular subscriber exceeds said credit limit for said particular subscriber; and output means, operating within said digital computer, for outputting an indication to the telecommunication service provider that said particular subscriber has exceeded said credit limit for said particular subscriber and for outputting information to the telecommunication service provider indicating the existence of said credit pattern in said plurality of credit scores.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said credit means includes means for using at least one of said plurality of credit scores to update said credit limit for said particular subscriber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said credit means includes means for communicating a decreasing credit limit for said particular subscriber to a telecommunication service provider.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-24 | 2000-09-23 | 2001-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-24 | 2004-09-23 | 2005-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-24 | 2008-09-23 | 2009-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |