Method and apparatus for applying extra services to a prepaid cellular subcriber

摘要

A method and apparatus is provided for managing periodic supplementary service charges to a prepaid subscriber account in a telecommunications network. Periodic charges in a prepaid billing system associated with a supplementary service such as call waiting, call forwarding or caller ID are imposed utilizing a predefined tariff rate. The tariff rate includes provisions for credit and for charges that may be applied to a subscriber's PPS account. Charges for call events and for periodic events may be charged to the same account. Additionally, credit and charges may be applied to a call-event sub-account and a supplementary service sub-account. Credit applied to the call-event sub-account may be converted into call time for debiting call-events. Charges associated with supplementary services are periodically deducted from the available funds in the supplementary service sub-account at the beginning or end of each period as set forth in the applicable tariff.