PREPAID CHARGING INTERFACE ENHANCEMENTS ENABLING PREPAID MESSAGING BUCKETS

摘要

The signaling interface between a wireless network message center and a prepaid control platform is enhanced by the addition of one or more parameters useful in supporting special accounting treatments for user message communications through a wireless network, for example, include a ConnectedAddressList, an ExceptionIndicator and/or a PolicyOverrideIndicator. The ConnectedAddressList and PolicyOverrideIndicator can be used to allow a prepaid wireless service provider to offer a wide variety of free or specially priced messaging buckets to its subscribers (or to a select group of its subscribers). User messages may be delivered for free, for example, if they are going to or coming from other customers of the service provider. The ExceptionIndicator can be used to block application of such buckets, e.g. to enable premium pricing, for international delivery or the like.

主权项

1. A method of prepaid handling of a messaging service message for communication through a wireless network comprising steps of:
receiving the messaging service message for communication through the wireless network, from a mobile station of a subscriber having prepaid wireless service, at a messaging service center in the wireless network; in response to receiving the messaging service message, sending, from the messaging service center to a prepaid server, a prepaid transaction request signaling message, wherein the prepaid transaction request signaling message includes a connected address list comprising an address for each of one or more communications devices to which the messaging service message is to be sent other than the mobile station of the subscriber; receiving, in response to the prepaid transaction request signaling message, a prepaid transaction response signaling message at the messaging service center from the prepaid server; and controlling processing of the messaging service message through the wireless network to the one or more communication devices based on data contained in the received signaling response message.