Apparatus and method for prepaid charging of coexistent wireless circuit-switched calls and packet- switched calls

摘要

The present invention enables a wireless communications system to support prepaid charging for a packet-switched call and a circuit-switched call that are associated with a subscriber and that are coexistent. The present invention utilizes an integrated accounting processor that fetches an amount remaining in the subscriber's prepaid account and determines a balance that the subscriber may consume. An integrated prepaid node (IPPN) that is logically associated with an integrated wireless packet services node (IWPSN) monitors the usage associated with the packet-switched call and the circuit-switched call. When the packet-switched call ends, the IPPN reports the usage consumed during the packet-switched call and the circuit-switched call to the integrated accounting processor. The integrated accounting processor adjusts the subscriber's prepaid account in accordance with the usage. If the usage exceeds the balance during the calls, the IWPSN initiates the termination of the calls, and the IPPN notifies the integrated accounting processor.