Patents by Inventor Stacia Kathleen Smith

Stacia Kathleen Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Communication unit and method for facilitating prepaid communication services
    Publication number: 20030157925
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to facilitate prepaid communication services in a manner that reduces the user inconvenience and lost operator revenue presently associated with account replenishment. The network equipment (110-122) collects service usage information associated with a prepaid account and uses this information to predict when the prepaid account will be depleted. If the remaining time before account depletion is below an established minimum, a communication unit (101) associated with the account is notified. The communication unit is then able to respond by requesting replenishment of the account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Russell E. Sorber, Stacia Kathleen Smith