Abstract: An on demand, real time billing equipment for a user of a radio telephone employs a telephone switching platform, including an unintelligent switch and a computer, which is in communication with a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone transmitting system, and long distance telephone transmitting system. The computer is programed to monitor, control and rate telephone calls made by said customer to tally for each separate customer the identification of each individual phone number called, the date of each individual phone number called, duration of each individual phone number called, and the cost of each individual call and provide detail billing information on demand in real time. For rented radio telephones, an access terminal is in communication with the credit authorization center at which the identification of the customer is entered.

Abstract: The telecommunications networks of the present invention include a wireless enhanced service platform which is coupled to a home location register database and a prepaid platform. The telecommunications networks of the present invention may also include a mobile switching center for accepting calls from a wireless handset, an interexchange network that carries calls to the prepaid platform, and a local network for terminating calls.The present invention also includes a method for setting up a call in a telecommunications network comprising sending transaction capabilities application part messages containing prepaid parameters between a wireless enhanced service platform and a prepaid platform. The prepaid parameters are the information needed to process and bill a debit call. The present invention also includes a method for sending transaction capabilities application part messages containing prepaid parameters between a mobile switching center and a prepaid platform.

Abstract: A telecommunication system incorporates individual station instruments simplified by wireless operation, voice dialing, prepaid accounting and out-call operation, all enabled by cooperative system operation including supporting central equipment. Wireless operation of the central equipment involves a multiple port wireless platform along with other units for interfacing a multitude of mobile station instruments simultaneously for interactive audio communication to, regulate control, monitor and record operations of the instruments, and bridge communication with selected remote terminals through the public switched telephone network. Message capability, emergency abort to an operator station and security features supplement the basic system.

Abstract: A method is provided for updating a time-remaining value representative of the time remaining during a predetermined period of time for communication between a mobile communications device and a radio telecommunications network, the mobile communications device having a memory site in which the time-remaining value may be stored. The method has the step of communicating an update request signal from the mobile communications device to the radio telecommunications network. The method also has the step of communicating an initialization value representative of the time remaining within the predetermined period of time for communication between the mobile communications device and the radio telecommunications network from the radio telecommunications network to the mobile communications device in response to the update request signal. The method has the further step of storing the initialization value in the memory site.

Abstract: An individual recognition system uses a mobile communication apparatus to more securely conduct financial data transactions. A call number stored in a mobile communications apparatus is read by a terminal unit and transmitted to a computer. The computer calls the mobile communications apparatus and requests a user to input a personal identification code. The personal identification code is transmitted from the mobile communications apparatus to the computer, so that the transmitted personal identification code is compared with a previously registered personal identification code for verification. As a result of verification, a registered person is confirmed. Then, a price of a purchase is input to the terminal unit and transmitted to the computer. Settlement for payment of the price of the purchase is carried out in a bank account.

Abstract: A recyclable cellular telephone is disclosed having an inner rigid cellular electronics supporting frame member surrounded by a replaceable outer cover. The telephone is acquired having a limited period of use. The electronics of the telephone operate to disable the telephone following expiration of the period of use. Following expiration of the period of use, the telephone is returned for refurbishment where the outer cover is stripped and replaced and the electronics tested before being recycled with a new period of use for an another acquisition. The cellular network supporting telephone operation also monitors the period of use, disabling telephone access to the network following expiration. Directory numbers are selectively assigned to the recyclable telephones from a pool of available numbers, with assigned numbers returned to the pool after expiration of a predetermined period or telephone deactivation for re-use by another recyclable telephone.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to realize a PHS terminal disabling system which can improve the recovery rate of lent PHS terminals. The PHS terminal disabling system includes a PHS terminal, a plurality of cell sites for communicating with the PHS terminal, and an exchange for performing an exchanging operation of the PHS terminal via the cell sites.

Abstract: In the method and system for monitoring the fees arising for calls in a mobile radiotelephone system, billing data is offered and a charge limit (CL) is defined for every individual call, a limited calling time (TA) for the respective call being calculated on the basis thereof. In parallel to the limitation of the call to a specific time duration, a monitoring function is started at every call with which the call is automatically cleared down upon expiration of the limited calling time (TA). By the limitation of the calling time per call and by the monitoring function, the charges incurred during the respective call cannot exceed an upper limit and a misuse of the mobile radiotelephone system, particularly given forwarded or transferred calls, is avoided in a simple manner.

Abstract: Whenever a roaming mobile subscriber's preferred long distance carrier is not ascertainable by a visited Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), instead of utilizing a default long distance carrier selected by the visited PLMN, the serving mobile switching center (MSC) analyzes the received International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number to determine the home network provider or PLMN associated with the roaming mobile subscriber. Using the determined home network provider data, the serving MSC retrieves the correlated home PLMN preferred long distance carrier data from its associated register. A long distance carrier specified by the retrieved data is then utilized by the serving MSC to serve all long distance calls originated from and forwarded by the roaming mobile station.

Abstract: A recyclable cellular telephone is disclosed having an inner rigid cellular electronics supporting frame member surrounded by a replaceable outer cover. The telephone is acquired having a limited period of use. The electronics of the telephone operate to disable the telephone following expiration of the period of use. Following expiration of the period of use, the telephone is returned for refurbishment where the outer cover is stripped and replaced and the electronics tested before being recycled with a new period of use for an another acquisition. The cellular network supporting telephone operation also monitors the period of use, disabling telephone access to the network following expiration. Directory numbers are selectively assigned to the recyclable telephones from a pool of available numbers, with assigned numbers returned to the pool after expiration of a predetermined period or telephone deactivation for re-use by another recyclable telephone.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there is provided a time control system for a cellular telephone having a control circuit, which includes an external control having a timing input arrangement for receiving use-time available to a user of the cellular telephone, an interface box connected with the external control detachably connected with the cellular telephone, an interface transmission module in the interface box, an internal data transmission circuit in the cellular telephone, a disconnectable transmission arrangement disposed between the interface transmission module and the internal transmission circuit, an internal timing control circuit in the cellular telephone having a timing storage arrangement for storing use-time available to the user of the cellular telephone, the cellular telephone control circuit having a disabling input connected with the internal timing control arrangement for disabling the cellular telephone upon expiration of use-time stored in the timing storage arrangement.

Abstract: The portable cellular telephone credit card calling system works in conjunction with a cellular telephone, a local cellular network and an IXC in a telecommunications network. The portable cellular telephone has a handset and a transceiver unit and a credit card and electronic control interface electronically interposed between the handset and the transceiver unit. The interface unit has a credit card reader and an electronic system which initially validates the credit card. The cellular telephone also includes electronic circuitry which establishes a first telephone communications link with the network and transmits, via the transceiver unit for the phone, to the network, credit card data, a cellular telephone ID data and the telephone number input into the handset by the user. Upon receipt of at least the credit card data, a network transceiver verifies the validity of the user's credit card.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting tariff data via radio-frequency signals to a chargeable subscriber unit (1) communicating with a telecommunication network (7). In order to charge the user of the subscriber unit as fairly as possible, a tariff frame corresponding to a lump sum is transmitted to the subscriber unit (1), charge-metering signals received from the telecommunication network (7) are counted, and when the monetary value corresponding to the number of the counted charge-metering signals exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a new tariff frame corresponding to a lump sum is transmitted to the subscriber unit (1). The invention also relates to a system where the method according to the invention can be applied.

Abstract: A recyclable cellular telephone is disclosed having an inner rigid cellular electronics supporting frame member surrounded by a replaceable outer cover. The telephone is acquired having a limited period of use. The electronics of the telephone operate to disable the telephone following expiration of the period of use. Following expiration of the period of use, the telephone is returned for refurbishment where the outer cover is stripped and replaced and the electronics tested before being recycled with a new period of use for an another acquisition. The cellular network supporting telephone operation also monitors the period of use, disabling telephone access to the network following expiration. Directory numbers are selectively assigned to the recyclable telephones from a pool of available numbers, with assigned numbers returned to the pool after expiration of a predetermined period or telephone deactivation for re-use by another recyclable telephone.

Abstract: A method of renting portable telephones is disclosed. When a portable telephone 5 is rented from a first rental shop 4-1 and returned to a second rental shop 4-2 different from the first, the telephone identification code 5(ID) and the first rental shop identification code 4-1(ID) stored therein are read and transmitted to a control center 2. Simultaneously, the number of call units 52A recorded in the portable telephone 5 is also read and transmitted to the control center 2. Based on this return data 20, the control center 2 is able to track the movement of the portable telephones 5 among the rental shops 4 (4-1, 4-2, . . . ) and to enter the use charge in the accounts as sales of the first rental shop 4-1. In addition, it can also ascertain the number of portable telephones 5 available for rental and the number of portable telephones 5 on loan at each rental shop. As a result, the renting and returning of the portable telephones among the rental shops 4 can be conducted efficiently.

Abstract: A radiotelephone subscriber unit (101) comprises a memory unit (259) having stored therein an identification sequence including a phone number (MIN1 and MIN2) and an electronic serial number (ESN). The phone number (MIN1 and MIN2) is common to at least one other portable radiotelephone subscriber unit in a radiotelephone system (102) The electronic serial number (ESN) is unique to the portable radiotelephone subscriber unit (101) in the radiotelephone system.

Abstract: A pre-pay service unit uses pseudo-numbers to identify subscribers and substitutes actual numbers to complete a call after verification of authenticity and verification of a positive balance in a subscriber's account. The service unit and the cellular telephone exchange data in the process of authentication. For outgoing calls, a cellular telephone first transmits an "800" number and an ANI. The "800" number is the telephone number of the pre-pay service unit, which then requests number actually dialed. The cellular telephone responds with dialed digits, a security code, and status data. If the information is correct, the dialed digits are then passed to a local exchange carrier to complete the call. For incoming calls, a pseudo-number directs the call to the pre-pay service unit, which converts the pseudo-number to the actual telephone number of a subscriber's cellular telephone.