Use of distinctive ringing in a wireless communication system to inform a called party of an increased billing rate

摘要

A wireless communication system determines whether an increased billing rate will be applied for an incoming call by comparing an Originating Rate Center ID for the call with a current location of a mobile unit. Based upon this determination, the wireless communication center provides a distinctive ringing alert to a serviced mobile unit when an increased billing rate will be applied. An increased billing rate may be applied when the mobile unit terminates a call outside of its Home Zone and/or outside of the Orginating rate Center of the call. The user of the mobile unit may then elect to receive the call based upon the knowledge that the call is a increased billing rate call or a regular billing rate call.