MXPA96003810A - Information access system pas - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a passive information access system for use in a service subscription system, which has a service provider and at least one subscriber unit, the passive information system is characterized in that it comprises: a base data to store specific subscriber information for at least one subscriber unit; detection means for detecting at least one initialization signal of at least one subscriber unit when at least one subscriber unit is activated; identification means for identifying the subscriber; less an activated subscriber unit of at least one detected initialization signal; access means for accessing the subscriber information of the specific database for at least one activated, identified subscriber unit, and presentation means for presenting the minus a portion of the subscriber information accessed for at least one active subscriber unit

Description

SYSTEM. OF PASSIVE INFORMATION ACCESS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a class of subscriber expansion services that is applicable for communication, banking and entertainment purposes. More particularly, the description relates to a passive information service where passive information is updated and provided to the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, mobile telephone systems, wireless systems, credit card systems or interactive television systems comprise a centralized or distributed service provider connected to a plurality of subscribers to provide services such as telephone connections or pay per event. The service provider includes the equipment to perform various tasks, which include subscriber data collection, use of authentication, data processing, customer services, billing and accounting. For example, the interactive television system includes a REF: 22966 communication network to transport signals from the cable head to the distribution uses, from which the signals are sent through trunk lines, power lines and down cables to the subscribers. The interactive television system also includes processors for billing and counting in the head. Similar system arrangements exist in credit card systems, where telephone transmission lines are used to communicate with terminals at the point of sale, located on the premises of the subscriber and a central computer is used to verify the appropriate authorization and process the information to invoice. In wireless mobile telephone systems, a call originated from a cellular phone is captured by the receiving circuit in a cell located in the vicinity of the cellular phone, and is routed via a trunk trunk to a mobile communication switching system, and eventually sent to a telephone network. The accounting and billing information of the subscribers is usually stored and processed in a central computer connected to the switching system. In the typical cellular telephone system, the switching system establishes communication with the central computer once every twelve or twenty-four hours to download the call records stored in the switching system during that period of time. To limit unauthorized cellular calls, some cell phone service providers usually check cell phone activities, such as numerous calls within a short period of time. In such a verification process the switching event can download the accessed data more frequently than the twelve or twenty-four hour intervals. U.S. Patent No. 5,241,588 and U.S. Patent No. 5,345,380 disclose a method and apparatus for providing customized telephone services selectable by the user. A subscriber can personalize their telephone services including the selection of calls and waiting for calls. For example, the subscriber can specify a period of time during which the selection of the calls will be made. The personalized services described here, however, do not include access to information related to the subscriber's personal account stored in the telephone network. Normally, a subscriber does not verify your account information, unless you suspect there is a problem with the payment of the phone or that you are not authorized to use it. In most cases, fraudulent or unauthorized use goes unnoticed until the receipt of monthly payments. Apart from the billing balances received from the service provider, a subscriber can only access the information in his account through a customer service representative of the telephone service provider. Upon receipt of such request, the customer service representative has access to the subscriber's account database located in the switching system to provide the requested information, such as billing or charges accrued to the subscriber. US Pat. No. 5,146,490 to Beckman proposes an auxiliary system of passive telephone calls, which marks the time of incoming and outgoing telephone calls. This system aims to eliminate the process of having to contact the service provider to access the current account information. The system includes a visual representation device that displays the dialed number and the elapsed time of the call in a format that is continuously updated. The format of the visual representation device can also be individually customized, to show only the information requested. The Beckman system describes that the subscriber station in the subscriber premise includes a processor and memory means for processing and updating call and time information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The apparatus according to the present invention provides a passive information access system for use in a service subscription system, which has a service provider and at least one subscriber unit. The passive information system includes a database for storing information of the subscriber specified for a subscriber, and a receiver for detecting the initialization signals of a subscriber unit in which the respective subscriber unit is activated. The passive information access system also includes a central computer to identify the activated subscriber unit, from the detected initialization signals, accessing the subscriber information of the specific database for the identified subscriber unit, and presenting the minus a portion of the subscriber information accessed for the identified subscriber unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless mobile telephone network, which includes a passive information access system of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a cellular telephone in connection with the passive information access system, as shown in Figure 3; Figure 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating the operation system of the passive information system in connection with the operation of the cellular phone, as shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a table that contains the cell usage data in the subscriber information database in the cellular network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 illustrates a cellular network that includes a passive information access system.

As used in this application, "subscriber" and "caller" refers to the entity for which a subscriber service is provided, and "service provider" refers to the entity that normally provides a subscriber service to the subscriber. a plurality of subscribers, and includes means to implement access to passive information. The cellular network includes a service provider 8, which includes a cellular telephone base station 12, a switching system 14, a subscriber profile database 18, a central computer 20, an information database of the subscriber 22, a database of the profile of the backup subscriber 24, a backup host computer 26 and a subscriber subscriber information database 28. The service provider 8, which may be either centralized or distributed communicates with cell phones 9, 10, 11 and receiving telephones 15, 16, 17. The passive information access system includes all components of the cellular network except the receiving telephones 15, 16, 17. Each one of the cellular telephones 9, 10, 11 or subscriber units preferably includes a visual display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or light emitting diode (LED) display. The cellular telephone base station 12 comprises antennas and radios for communicating with cellular telephones 9, 10, 11. The cellular telephone base station 12 also comprises the transmission equipment which is connected to the switching system 14 via one or more conventional trunk lines. The switching system 14 performs the call processing functions for the cellular telephones 9, 10, 11 and the receiving telephones 15, 16, 17. The switching system 14 handles the dialed numbers and connects the calls to the receiving telephones 15. , 16, 17. The switching system can be located in a network provided by a cellular telephone company or a central station carrier (LEC) such as one of the Bell Companies operating Regionally. Alternatively, the switching system 14 can be provided by a long distance carrier such as AT &; T. In addition, the switching system 14 may include the profile database of the subscriber 18, the central computer 20 and the subscriber information database 22. The central computer 20 operates in connection with the subscriber information database 22 and the subscriber profile database 18. Central computer 20 and backup central computer 26 basically serve in the same manner to process, store, update and retrieve the necessary data in a fraction of a second that is needed to complete a call. The subscriber information database 22 retains, among other data, subscriber unit identifications, usage information, including calls accumulated since the last billing period for each of the cell phones 9, 10, 11 and amount pending for each of the cell phones 9, 10, 11. All of this data can be displayed by the passive information access system to the subscriber each time the subscriber turns on the cell phone 9, 10, 11. Alternatively, the subscriber profile database 18 preserves the presentation formats for each of the cellular telephones 9, 10, 11, wherein the presentation formats, such as a certain portion of data, can be pre-specified by the subscribers. The databases 24 and 28 basically keep the same information in the databases 18 and 22. The databases 18, 22, 24 and 28 can be distributed in different areas of memory assigned to each of the cell phones 9, 10, 11. Figures 2 and 3 are flow diagrams illustrating the operation of the passive information access system in connection with one of the cellular telephones 9, 10, 11. More specifically, Figure 2 illustrates the steps of operation processed in a cellular telephone 10 and figure 3 illustrates the operation steps processed in the service provider 8. When a cellular telephone 10 is turned on (step 30), the cellular telephone 10 periodically transmits initialization signals, including the identification of the service provider and the subscriber unit to the service provider 8 (step 32). The cellular telephone base station 12 of the service provider 8 detects the initialization signals and sends the signals to the central computer 20. The central computer 20 then identifies the cellular telephone 10 and the subscriber associated with the cellular telephone 10 extracting the code identification of the subscriber unit of the detected initialization signals (step 36). Such an identification code scheme is commonly used in current cellular telephone systems. As part of this identification scheme, the central computer 20 has access to the subscriber information database 22 and retrieves the specific usage information for the identified cellular phone 10, to verify the account of the identified subscriber (step 38). For example, if the cellular telephone subscriber 10 reports unauthorized use such as theft, loss or fraudulent use of the cell phone 10 to the service provider 8, then such records, along with the cell phone identification are stored in the base of subscriber information data 22. Subsequently, when the cellular telephone 10 is turned on, the service provider 8 identifies the cellular telephone 10 together with the accessed information that reflects the unauthorized use (step 40). The service provider will operate under a prearranged fraud protection mode, such as initiating an inquiry process or denying the initialization attempt (step 41, 45). During the identification verification process, the passive information access system of the present invention may use the usage information retrieved from the subscriber information database 22, to provide the desired portion of the usage information to the cell phone identified 10. To present the specific portion of the information of use desired by the subscriber, the central computer 20 retrieves a predetermined display format from the subscriber profile database 18 (step 39). The predetermined presentation format can be chosen during the process by the subscriber of the cellular telephone service, for example, at the time of the announcement of the beginning of subscription of cellular telephone service. At that time, the subscriber chooses a certain portion of the usage information for presentation, so that such portion is presented when the cellular telephone 10 is turned on. For example, the subscriber can choose to be presented the number of minutes used since the last billing period. The mobile telephone service provider 8 then stores the selected presentation format in the subscriber profile database 18. The presentation mode can also be predetermined, so that the subscriber has options between a visual representation on a screen in the cellular telephone 10 and an audio announcement, preferably of a voice frequency converter. The visual representation on the cell phone screen 10 can use, either, an LCD or LED screen. The voice frequency converter is a type of digital signal processor well known in the art for converting digital signals into speech frequency signals. The subscriber information in the predetermined format is transmitted to the cellular telephone 10 (step 42) and is received by the cellular telephone 10 (step 44). The presentation is then done either in the visual representation modes, vocal frequency or both (steps 46a and 46b). Based on the information presented, the subscriber can trace his account of use and detect fraudulent activities. For example, the subscriber can contact the cell phone service provider 8 to close his cell phone account, when the presented information includes call records that he has not made.

After the presentation of the accessed information, the subscriber dials the telephone number to which he wishes to call (step 48). The switching system 14 in the cellular network will connect the calls to the receiving telephones 16 (step 50). For billing purposes, the central computer 20 can mark the time at the beginning and end of each call. When the cellular telephone 10 is turned off (step 50), the cellular telephone 10 transmits the termination signals (step 52). The cellular telephone base station 12 detects the termination signals and sends those signals to the central computer 20 via the switching system 14 (step 54). The central computer 20 then processes the usage data related to the series of recently completed calls (step 56). Alternatively, the central computer 20 can process the usage data in each cell. Based on the processed usage data, the usage information in the subscriber information database 22 is updated (step 58). For example, the number of minutes of total use may be increased by the duration of those calls. At the same time, the number of free minutes remaining from the monthly service plan may decrease for the duration of the calls. Figure 4 illustrates an example of the data stored in the subscriber information database 22, which may be in a table format having columns and rows. Table 60 may include an identification number of the subscriber unit 62, the total usage amount 64 indicating the total number of cellular service minutes used since the last billing period, and the amount of free use 66 indicated by the number of free minutes remaining from a monthly service plan. The total usage amount 64 is generally set to zero at the end of each billing period, such as each month, transferring a balance to an account report. In this way, at the beginning of each month, the number of minutes of total use is set to zero. Alternatively, the total usage amount 64 can be restored when the subscriber's bill is paid. Typically, cell phone service providers, promotional programs, offer monthly service plans where a certain amount of free minutes is included. The amount of free use 66 can also be determined personally by each subscriber by paying in advance the desired amount. The special use quantity column 68 can be used if some specific information is desired by the subscriber. For example, the special use amount 68 may be designated as the total number of minutes of long distance calls made since the last billing period.

The subscriber may specify that any portion of the above information be presented. A benefit of such a presentation is that it keeps track of the use of the cell phone becomes a much easier task when the subscriber automatically receives his usage information every time he turns on the cell phone 10. For example, the total number of minutes can be presented that the cellular service was used, since the last billing period, the number of remaining free minutes of the monthly service plan, or the total number of minutes of long distance calls. The subscriber can also specify the recent activities in his cell phone account that must be added in an additional column and be presented when he turns on cell phone 10. So the subscriber could be in a better position to be aware of any fraudulent activity . For example, the duration of each of the last five calls from each of the telephone numbers to which the last five calls were made can be presented. Although the invention has been described particularly with reference to the cellular telephone network, the passive information access system in the present invention can be applied to other communication services. For example, on cable or interactive television, a summary of current pending charges or any other information about such subscriber use, such as the cumulative use of pay-per-view programs and interactive television services, or even the subscriber You can select to display the national average observation time. Additionally, the passive information access system can be implemented in conjunction with a credit card service. Credit card companies commonly maintain a billing database for authorization purposes. To this database, it is necessary to add some additional information and it can be used for the passive information access system. For example, the number of transactions from the last billing date, the place of the last purchase or the cumulative amount of charges made since the last billing period can be provided together with the authorization response. Such information not only provides a basis for verification of use, but also alerts credit card users of fraudulent use of the credit card. The information can be updated after each transaction at the same time the credit balance is updated. What has been described herein is merely illustrative of other arrangements and methods that can be implemented by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover all modifications of the invention that fall within the spirit and real scope of the invention.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the invention citation is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (20)

1. A passive information access system for use in a service subscription system, which has a service provider and at least one subscriber unit, the passive information system is characterized in that it comprises: a database for storing information of the subscriber specified for at least one subscriber unit; detection means for detecting at least one initialization signal from at least one subscriber unit when at least one subscriber unit is activated; identification means for identifying at least one activated subscriber unit of at least one detected initialization signal; access means for accessing the subscriber information of the specific database for at least one activated subscriber unit, identified; and display means for displaying at least a portion of the accessed subscriber information for at least one activated subscriber unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the presentation means include a visual display device for displaying at least a portion of the information of the accessed subscriber.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the presentation means includes a voice frequency converter for converting digital signals from at least a portion of the information of the accessed subscriber into voice frequency signals.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: means for storing records of unauthorized use in the database when at least one subscriber unit notifies the subscriber's provider of unauthorized use; and means for identifying the initialization of at least one subscriber unit when the information of the accessed subscriber specifies for at least one identified subscriber unit, which include records of unauthorized use.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: connection means for making service connections upon request of at least one subscriber unit; detection means for further detecting at least one termination signal of at least one subscriber unit, when at least one respective subscriber unit is deactivated; and processing means for processing the usage data related to the service connections by at least one respective subscriber unit after the detection of at least one termination signal and for updating the information of the accessed subscriber based on the processed usage data. related to service connections.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means to predetermine that the portion of the information of the accessed subscriber is presented by at least one subscriber unit according to a selection by at least one respective subscriber unit.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the service provider provides telephone services, and the subscriber information, specified for at least one subscriber unit, includes the identification of the subscriber unit and usage information, which includes calls accumulated during a billing period and the amount of usage accumulated in such billing period.

8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the service provider provides credit card services and the subscriber information, specifies for at least one subscriber unit, includes the identification of the subscriber unit and the information of the subscriber. which includes the transactions accumulated during a billing period and the total usage amount accumulated in such billing period.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the service provider provides television services and subscriber information, specifies for at least one subscriber unit, includes the identification of the subscriber unit and the usage information includes the services ordered accumulated during a billing period and the amount of usage accumulated in such billing period.

10. A passive information access system for use in a service subscription system that has a service provider and at least one subscriber unit, the passive information system is characterized in that it comprises: a database for storing subscriber information for at least one subscriber unit; a receiver for detecting at least one initialization signal from at least one subscriber unit when at least one subscriber unit is activated; and a central computer for identifying at least one subscriber unit activated from at least one detected initialization signal, to have access from the subscriber information of the specific database for at least one activated, identified subscriber unit and to present to the subscriber unit. minus a portion of the information of the accessed subscriber for at least one activated subscriber unit, identified.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a central computer for storing records of unauthorized use in the database, when at least one subscriber unit notifies the service provider of unauthorized use, and to deny initialization of at least one subscriber unit, when the information of the accessed subscriber specified for at least one identified subscriber unit includes the records of unauthorized use.

12. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises: a switching system having a database and a central computer and configured to make service connections while requesting at least one subscriber unit; a receiver for further detecting at least one termination signal from at least one subscriber unit when at least one respective subscriber unit is deactivated; and a central computer for further processing the use of data related to the service connections by at least one respective subscriber unit upon detection of at least one termination signal and for updating the information of the accessed subscriber, based on the data of the subscriber. Use processed related service connections.

13. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the central computer predetermines that the portion of the information of the accessed subscriber is presented by at least one subscriber unit according to a selection by at least one respective subscriber unit.

14. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the service provider provides telephone services and the subscriber information, specified for at least one subscriber unit, includes the identification of the subscriber unit and the usage information includes accumulated calls during a billing period and the amount of usage accumulated in such billing period.

15. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the service provider provides credit card services and subscriber information, specifies for at least one subscriber unit, includes the identification of the subscriber unit and the usage information includes transactions accumulated during a billing period and the amount of usage accumulated during such billing period.

16. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the service provider provides television services and subscriber information, specifies for at least one subscriber unit, includes the identification of the subscriber unit and the usage information includes the services ordered accumulated during a billing period and the amount of usage accumulated in such billing period.

17. A method for providing access to passive information in a service subscription system having a service provider and at least one subscriber unit, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: storing the subscriber information specified for at least one subscriber unit in a data base; detecting at least one initialization signal from at least one subscriber unit when at least one subscriber unit is activated; identifying at least one activated subscriber unit of at least one detected initialization signal; access from the subscriber information of the specific database for at least one activated subscriber unit, identified; and presenting at least a portion of the information of the accessed subscriber to at least one activated subscriber unit, identified.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of storing the records of unauthorized use in the database when at least one subscriber unit notifies the subscriber's provider of the unauthorized use and denies the initialization of the minus a subscriber unit when the information of the accessed subscriber specifies for at least one identified subscriber unit includes the records of the unauthorized use.

19. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: making service connections upon request of at least one subscriber unit; detecting at least one termination signal from at least one subscriber unit when at least one respective subscriber unit is deactivated; processing the usage data related to the service connections for at least one respective subscriber unit upon detection of at least one terminating unit; and updating the information of the accessed subscriber based on the processed usage data related to the service connections.

20. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises the step of predetermining that the portion of the information of the accessed subscriber is presented by at least one subscriber unit according to a selection by at least one respective subscriber unit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus and method of the present invention provides a passive information access for use in a service subscription system that has a service provider and at least one subscriber unit. The passive information access system includes a database, a receiver for detecting initialization signals from a subscriber unit, a central computer for identifying the subscriber unit based on the detected initialization signals, accessing from the subscriber information of the specific database for the unit of the identified subscriber, and presenting at least a portion of the information of the subscriber accessed to the unit of the identified subscriber. In this way, when the subscriber turns on the subscriber unit, a portion of the relevant subscriber information is passively displayed on a visual display device or announced by a voice frequency activator. In addition, the central computer detects the termination of the signals of the subscriber unit and updates the subscriber information after termination. In addition, the subscriber can specify and advance the portion of the subscriber information that is presented.