Multiple virtual wallets in wireless device

• US 20020022472A1
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telemac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Telemac Corporation
• Inventors: Watler, Theodore, Hanley, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US09/915,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022472A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/79 Virtual purses
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 : On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 : Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 : Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 : Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/92 : Autonomous calculations of charges in terminal, i.e. meter not controlled from exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system having a wireless device capable of monitoring and tracking its own usage and account activities is disclosed. The wireless device includes an account management application and accounting applications. The account management application manages a variety of accounts in conjunction with the accounting applications and is used by a user to determine how each call/transaction is to be paid for. For example, the user of the wireless device may wish to pay for business calls using a first account and personal calls using a second account.

Claims

1. A system for handling a plurality of account activities, comprising:

a wireless device capable of performing a plurality of billable operations;

an account management application residing in the wireless device;

wherein the account management application is configured to manage a plurality of accounts; and

wherein each billable operation performed by the wireless device is selectively charged to one of the plurality of accounts.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface configured to allow a user to determine how each billable operation performed by the wireless device is to be selectively charged to one of the plurality of accounts.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the account management application automatically selects one of the plurality of accounts to be charged for at least one of the plurality of billable operations in accordance with an algorithm.

4. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an accounting application configured to calculate charges for each billable operation performed by the wireless device;

wherein the account management application functions in cooperation with the accounting application to manage the plurality of accounts.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of billable operations includes making or receiving a voice or data communication.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein how each billable operation performed by the wireless device is to be selectively charged to one of the plurality of accounts depends on origin or destination of the voice or data communication.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a mobile phone.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the account management application resides on a smart card attachable to the wireless device.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the account management application resides on a memory residing in the wireless device.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the accounting application resides on a memory residing in the wireless device.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the accounting application resides on a network.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the account management application is configured so as to allow a user to transfer balances amongst the plurality of accounts.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of accounts includes a postpaid account and a prepaid account.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of accounts has a usage limit;

and

wherein the plurality of billable operations performable by the wireless device is restricted when the usage limit is exceeded.

16. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the plurality of billable operations includes making or receiving a voice or data communication.

17. The wireless device of claim 16 wherein how each billable operation performed by the wireless device is to be selectively charged to one of the plurality of accounts depends on origin or destination of the voice or data communication.

18. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the wireless device is a mobile phone.

19. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the account management application resides on a smart card attached to the wireless device.

20. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the account management application resides on a memory residing in the wireless device.

21. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the accounting application resides on a network.

22. The wireless device of claim 15 wherein the account management application is configured so as to allow the user to transfer balances amongst the plurality of accounts.

23. The wireless device of claim 14 wherein the plurality of accounts includes a postpaid account and a prepaid account.

24. The wireless device of claim 14 wherein at least one of the plurality of accounts has a usage limit;

and

wherein the plurality of billable operations performable by the wireless device is restricted when the usage limit is exceeded.

26. The mobile phone of claim 25 further comprising:

a user interface configured to allow a user to selectively determine how each call made or received by the mobile phone is to be charged to one of the plurality of accounts.

27. The mobile phone of claim 25 further comprising:

an accounting application configured to calculate charges for each call made or received by the mobile phone.

28. The mobile phone of claim 25 wherein the account management application resides on a smart card attachable to the mobile phone.

29. The mobile phone of claim 25 wherein the account management application resides on a memory residing in the mobile phone.

30. The mobile phone of claim 27 wherein the accounting application resides on a memory residing in the mobile phone.

31. The mobile phone of claim 27 wherein the accounting application resides on a network.

32. The mobile phone of claim 25 wherein the plurality of accounts includes a postpaid account and a prepaid account.

33. The mobile phone of claim 25 wherein the calls made or received via the first line include business calls and the calls made or received via the second line include personal calls.

34. The mobile phone of claim 25 wherein the account management application is configured so as to allow the user to transfer balances amongst the plurality of accounts.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein the step of selecting one of the plurality of accounts further comprises:

allowing a user to select one of the plurality of accounts via a user interface.

37. The method according to claim 35 wherein the step of calculating charges to be paid for the billable operation is performed by an accounting application.

38. The method according to claim 35 wherein the accounting application resides on a memory residing in the wireless device.

39. The method according to claim 35 wherein the accounting application resides on a network.

40. The method according to claim 35 wherein the wireless device is a mobile phone.

41. The method according to claim 35 wherein the billable operation includes making or receiving a voice or data communication.

42. The method according to claim 41 wherein the step of selecting one of a plurality of accounts to be charged for the billable operation further comprises:

identifying origin or destination of the voice or data communication;

selecting the one of the plurality of accounts to be charged for the billable operation based on the identified origin or destination of the voice or data communication.

43. The method according to claim 35 further comprising:

restricting ability of the wireless device to perform the billable operation when credit limit of at least one of the plurality of accounts is exceeded.

44. The method according to claim 35 further comprising:

restricting ability of the wireless device to perform the billable operation when prepaid level of at least one of the plurality of accounts is exhausted or goes below a pre-established limit.

15. A wireless device configured to perform a plurality of billable operations, comprising:

an account management application residing on the wireless device and configured to maintain a plurality of accounts;

an accounting application configured to calculate charges for each billable operation performed by the wireless device; and

a user interface configured to allow a user to selectively determine how each billable operation performed by the wireless device is to be charged to one of the plurality of accounts;

wherein the account management application and the accounting application function in cooperation with each other in order to maintain the plurality of accounts.

25. A mobile phone comprising:

a first line and a second line both configured to make and receive calls; and

an account management application residing on the mobile phone and configured to manage a plurality of accounts;

wherein calls made or received via the first line is charged to one of the plurality of accounts and calls made or received via the second line is charged to another one of the plurality of accounts.

35. A method for tracking account activities relating to a plurality of billable operations performable by a wireless device, comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of accounts to be charged for a billable operation, wherein the plurality of accounts are maintained on the wireless device;

calculating charges to be paid for the billable operation;

causing the wireless device to perform the billable operation; and

updating the selected account.

45. A method for tracking account activities made by a mobile phone having a first line and a second line both configured to make and receive calls, comprising:

assigning a first account to calls made or received via the first line;

assigning a second account to calls made or received via the second line, wherein the first and second accounts are maintained on the mobile phone;

making or receiving a call via either the first line or the second line;

calculating charges to be paid for the call; and

updating either the first account or the second account based on the calculated charges depending on which one of the first and second lines the call is made or received.