 Multi-communication access point |
| In accordance with particular aspect of the invention, an access point is provided for use in a ... |
|
| Apparatus and method for address assignments for satellite telephone |
| The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for assigning addresses to terminals ... |
|
| Method and system for saving power in mobile units |
| In one aspect of the present invention, user input is not required for a mobile unit to stop ... |
|
| Over the air service provisioning (OTASP) method in mobile communication system |
| OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to ... |
|
| System and method of providing service information to a subscriber through a wireless device |
| OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In detailing the subject invention, several industry-recognized ... |
|
| Paging system for electronic telephone apparatus |
| It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a paging method and apparatus, for a ... |
|
| Controller for a telephone system with code screening of incoming calls |
| The present invention provides a remotely accessible telephone control system. In this aspect of ... |
|
| Arrangement for improving availability of services in a communication system |
| OF EMBODIMENTS Definition of User Mobility Let us now consider an example consisting of a telecom ... |
|
|
Tariff management apparatus and method for communications terminals using smart cards
| Details |
Inventors: Dent, Paul Wilkinson; Humphreys, Elizabeth Louise;
Assignee: Ericsson Inc. (Research Triangle Park, NC)
Primary Examiner: Frech; Karl D.
Assistant Examiner: Rodriquez; Douglas X.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec
Communication units used by a communications terminal are measured, and an economic efficiency associated with use of the terminal is determined from the measured communication units and a stored critical value of a tariff of a communications system that is stored in smart card that is coupled to the terminal. Measures to control communications unit usage by the terminal are initiated based on the determined economic efficiency. The measures to control usage may include providing an indication, e.g., a visual or audible indication, of the determined economic efficiency to a user of the terminal. According to one aspect, a first indication of economic efficiency is provided to the user, e.g., a first icon is displayed, if the measured communication units are less than the stored critical value, and a second indication of economic efficiency is provided to the user, e.g., a second icon is displayed, if the measured communication units are greater than the stored critical value. According to another aspect, measures to control usage may include altering usage of communication units by the terminal when the measured communication units exceed the stored critical value. The terminal may be disabled from communicating with the communications system if the measured communications units excess the stored critical value. Other measures may include disabling selected communications, e.g., disabling outward dialing, causing calls incoming to the terminal to be billed to an originating party, and reducing at least one of audio quality or video quality at the terminal. Disabling of such functions may be overridden by an input from a user. |
|
DETAILED DESCRIPTION In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved systems and methods for controlling expenses incurred by a communications terminal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide systems and methods for controlling a communications terminal which reduce incurring of excess charges by an unauthorized user.
These and other objects, features and advantages are provided according to the present invention, by communications terminals and methods of operation therefor in which at least one critical value of tariff is stored in a smart card that is coupled to the communications terminal.
The cumulative usage of communications units is measured for comparison to a stored critical value of a tariff in the smart card.
Measures to control usage are initiated when the measured cumulative usage exceeds the stored critical value.
The critical value may, for example, represent a breakpoint in a linearized tariff structure above which significantly higher charges are assessed for continued usage.
The measures to control usage may include providing a display or other indication of the economic efficiency of usage of the terminal, as well as actions affecting operation of the terminal, such as blocking outgoing and incoming calls, disabling voice mail, invoking reverse-billing, reducing video and audio quality, and the like.
Multiple critical values may be stored in the smart card, corresponding to different points in a tariff, and different measures may be taken when the cumulative usage exceeds these points.
For example, a display or other indication may be provided in response to cumulative usage reaching a first critical value, with disabling of terminal functions occurring when cumulative usage exceeds a second critical value.
According to other aspects, economic efficiency over a billing cycle may be forecast based on measured cumulative usage and the stored critical values from the smart card.
The smart card may be provided to the user of the communications terminal upon activation of the communications service
|
|
Cell Phones 
