Abstract:
A prepaid cellular telephone system and a method of providing prepaid cellular telephone services is provided. The telephone system includes a server operatively connected to a local exchange carrier for placing and receiving telephone calls and a handset for placing and receiving telephone calls over a cellular network. All non-emergency calls placed by the handset are direct to the server. In addition, the handset places a telephone call to the server in response to the receipt of an incoming telephone call by the handset. As a result, all non-emergency telephone calls placed or received by the handset may be monitored by the server for billing purposes.
Abstract:
A communications system including at least one user device, configured to access a plurality of services in a session. An information store stores information defining an amount of money for the user device. A controller requests at least a portion of the amount of money to be reserved and controls the allocation of the reserved portion of money between the plurality of services.
Abstract:
Method, system, and device embodiments including a wireless device having a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, and a transceiver are provided. The transceiver is in communication with the processor and is operable to transmit and receive information via a wireless connection. The device is operable to provide a wireless connection based upon a plan having a predetermined number of available units. The plan usage is tracked by a provider through use of a calculation method utilizing unit calculations that are not equal to exact time usage to decrement available units. The device is operable to emulate the calculation method of the provider in order to track the remaining available units on the device.
Abstract:
The present invention comprises a system and method for providing a personal identification number (PIN) to a client terminal over a computer network. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a server receives a request for a PIN over a network, the request originating from a user at a client terminal. The request is associated with a requested monetary unit and a requested provider. The server retrieves from a database a PIN associated with the requested monetary unit and requested provider. The server transmits the retrieved PIN to the client terminal over the network, wherein the PIN is transmitted to the client terminal on-demand in response to the customer's request.
Abstract:
An account management system for charging for services provided in a telecommunications network, which has at least one first account class and a second account class for a service receiver (consumer), where the accounts in the first account class can be filled upon payment of a fixable rate of value added tax, and the accounts in the second account class can be filled without payment of a rate of value added tax. The inventive method for charging for services provided in a telecommunications network is carried out using an account management system having at least one first account class and a second account class for the service receiver (consumer), where a rate of value added tax is not paid when charging via an account in the first account class, and a fixable rate of value added tax is paid when charging via an account in the second account class.
Abstract:
A method of operating a telecommunications device wherein the telecommunications device is used to detect an outgoing call from a calling party to a called number. The calling number is used to determine whether or not the calling party is a universal service user. If it is determined that the called number is among a class of numbers exempt from charges, the call is connected. A determination on the sufficiency of funds in a pre-paid account is made. If it is determined that there are insufficient funds in a pre-paid account to cover charges associated with the outgoing call, a message is generated and sent to the calling party or a third party requesting authorization to charge an additional fee for connecting the calling party with the called party. User input is received from the calling party, indicating the calling party's authorization of such charge. The connection between the calling party and the called party is made. In an alternative embodiment, costs for providing data communications between an initiating party and a universal service user are calculated, in response to a request by the initiating party, in accordance with the network elements required for a requested quality of service.
Abstract:
In a mobile communication system, communication credits are stored in a secure module 30 of a mobile communication appliance 10. Credits are reloaded over-the-air (OTA) from a reload server 20. For requesting a reload, the secure module 30 generates an authenticated reload request message 50, which is transmitted to the reload server 20. In response to receiving the reload request message 50, the reload server 20 informs the secure module 30 of how many credits have been granted in the form of an authenticated reload grant message 60. Successive messages are made to differ by using different transaction numbers. A received authenticated message is only accepted if a transaction number in the message matches a local transaction number.
Abstract:
A transaction processing platform capable of facilitating the distribution to consumers of various types of prepaid products is disclosed. The transaction processing platform is configured to interface with one or more providers of such prepaid products in order to facilitate the procurement or activation of the products. The platform includes a conduit interface through which service request messages are received and respectively utilized to generate transaction requests for corresponding types of prepaid services. A supply interface arrangement, operatively coupled to the conduit interface, is configured to route a first of the transaction requests through a first supply interface associated with a first type of prepaid service. The supply interface arrangement also routes a second transaction request through a second supply interface associated with a second type of prepaid service. The platform is also configured to provide supplier response information received through the supply interfaces to the conduit interface.
Abstract:
A system and method for providing top-up of mobile data, by processing one or more transactions between a data sponsor and a data beneficiary who is possibly being served by multiple data providers. The top-up can be based on i) an application program interface (API) call being made into the mobile network operator of a data user or ii) an API call being made into a sponsored data (SD) platform/system (SDS) to allocate a quota to the data user, among other possible product options. In the first option, provisioning of the data quota and consumption against the quota is managed directly by the mobile network operator itself. In the second option, allocation of the quota and consumption against the quota is managed by the SDS and an SD control app. The system can select a particular option because that option best meets one or more business goals or rules.
Abstract:
A recharge method includes: monitoring a balance of a living expense account, wherein the living expense account is an account for obtaining life service resource by paying fees, and the balance is indicative of remaining funds in the living expense account and/or a remaining amount of the life service resource in the living expense account; and recharging the living expense account according to a preset recharge path when the balance is less than or equal to a preset threshold value.