Importance

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Abstract

Usage information, such as minutes remaining in a prepaid or monthly block or other unit of allocated services, is provided to a terminal by a wireless communications system, e.g., a system operative to communicate with terminals via terrestrial base stations and/or satellites. The system maintains a subscriber information database including current cumulative usage information for subscribers. The system automatically communicates current cumulative usage information for a subscriber in the subscriber information database to a terminal. The current cumulative usage information may be communicated in a variety of ways. For example, current cumulative usage information may be communicated to the terminal at registration of the terminal. Current cumulative usage information may also be communicated during or at the end of a call. A plurality of usage indications may be communicated to a terminal, a respective one of which is associated with a respective type of usage, such as voice call usage, data call usage, home area usage, roaming usage and the like. The terminal receives current cumulative usage information from the wireless communications system, and indicates current cumulative usage for a subscriber to a user based on the received current cumulative usage information. Different usages may be indicated in different forms, such as by different visual or auditory indicia. Related operating methods for wireless communications system and terminals are also described.

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First Claim