Convergent communications platform and method for mobile and electronic commerce in a heterogeneous network environment
First Claim
1. A method of providing mobile commerce services via a plurality of networks, the method comprising:
- receiving in a roaming network from a user device, an identification number and a request for a service;
forwarding from the roaming network, to a home network, the identification number, the request for the service, and adding a service provider identification number that relates to a service provider and a cost of the service;
verifying, by a convergent communication platform located on the home network, that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the service and that the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for the service;
providing an authorization to the service provider, if the identification number relates to the valid user account, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the valid user account has sufficient value; and
charging the valid user account for providing the service.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing mobile commerce, electronic commerce, customer care and communication services via a plurality of networks, including receiving in a roaming network from a user device, an identification number and a request for a service, forwarding from the roaming network, to a home network, the identification number, the request for the service, and adding a service provider identification number that relates to a service provider and a cost or rate of the service, if the service is to be charged, verifying, by a convergent communication platform located on the home network, that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the service and that the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for the service, providing an authorization to the service provider, if the identification number relates to the valid user account, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the valid user account has sufficient value, if the service is to be charged and charging the valid user account on a real time basis, if necessary, for providing the service, if the service is to be charged.
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Citations
129 Claims
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1. A method of providing mobile commerce services via a plurality of networks, the method comprising:
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receiving in a roaming network from a user device, an identification number and a request for a service;
forwarding from the roaming network, to a home network, the identification number, the request for the service, and adding a service provider identification number that relates to a service provider and a cost of the service;
verifying, by a convergent communication platform located on the home network, that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the service and that the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for the service;
providing an authorization to the service provider, if the identification number relates to the valid user account, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the valid user account has sufficient value; and
charging the valid user account for providing the service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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15. An apparatus that provides mobile commerce services via a plurality of networks, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver that receives a request for a service, the request including an identification number from a user device located on a roaming network, and the service requested, a service provider identification number related to the service provider and a cost of the requested service from the roaming network;
a verifier that verifies that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the service and that the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for the service;
a sender that provides an authorization to the service provider, if the identification number relates to the valid user account, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the valid user account has sufficient value; and
a charger that charges the valid user account for providing the service.
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29. A method of providing pre-paid roaming communication services via a plurality of networks, the method comprising:
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receiving in a roaming network, from a user device, an identification number and a destination device number;
forwarding from the roaming network, to a home network, the identification number, the destination device number, and adding a service provider identification number and a cost of a roaming communication service;
verifying, by a convergent communication platform located on the home network, that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the service and that the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for an initial use of the service;
providing an authorization to the roaming network, if the identification number relates to a valid user information, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the account has sufficient value to pay for an initial use of the service;
charging the valid user account for providing the service; and
sending a signal when the valid user account balance reaches a predetermined level.
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46. An apparatus that provides pre-paid roaming communication services via a plurality of networks, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver that receives a request for a communication service, the request including an identification number and a destination device number from a user device located on a roaming network and a service provider identification number related to the service provider and a cost of the service from the roaming network;
a verifier that verifies that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the communication service on the roaming network and that the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for the service;
a sender that provides an authorization to the service provider, if the identification number relates to the valid user account, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the valid user account has sufficient value and that sends a signal if the valid user account reaches a predetermined level; and
a charger that charges the valid user account for providing the service.
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63. A method of providing network independent customer care services via a plurality of independent networks, the method comprising:
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receiving in a roaming network, from a user device, an identification number and a request for a customer care service;
forwarding from the roaming network, to a home network, the identification number, the request for the customer care service, and adding a service provider identification number;
verifying, by a convergent communication platform located on the home network, that the identification number relates to a valid user account; and
connecting the user device to the customer care service, if the identification number relates to the valid user account. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. An apparatus that provides customer care services via a plurality of networks, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver that receives a request for a customer care service, the request including an identification number from a user device located on a roaming network and a service provider identification number related to a service provider from the roaming network;
a verifier that verifies that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the customer care service; and
a connector that connects the user device to a customer care provider that can provide the customer care service, if the identification number relates to a valid user account. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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78. A method of recharging a pre-paid account for services to be provided via a convergent communications platform, comprising:
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receiving a request from a user device including a user identification number for authorization to use a customer account located on the convergent communications platform;
determining that the customer account, related to the user identification number, does not have a sufficient balance for the service to be provided;
determining that the customer account has an authorized recharge mechanism;
recharging the customer account using the authorized recharge mechanism; and
authorizing the use of the customer account for service via the convergent communications platform.
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83. An apparatus that recharges a pre-paid account for services to be provided via a convergent communications platform, comprising:
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a receiver that receives a request for authorization from a user device including an identification number to use a customer account located on the convergent communications platform;
a determiner that determines that the customer account, related to the identification number does not have a sufficient balance for the service to be provided and that the customer account has authorized a recharge mechanism;
a recharger that recharges the customer account using the recharge mechanism; and
a sender that sends an authorization for the use of the customer account for the service via the convergent communications platform. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87)
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88. A method for settling a pre-paid transaction to a plurality of providers in a convergent communications environment, comprising:
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charging a charge to a valid user account for a transaction provided via a plurality of networks on a real time basis;
determining a plurality of portions of the charge that should be distributed to a plurality of providers involved in providing the pre-paid transaction via the plurality of networks; and
settling with the providers for the pre-paid transaction via the plurality of networks according to the determined plurality of portions. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90, 91)
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92. An apparatus that settles a pre-paid transaction to a plurality of providers in a convergent communications environment, comprising:
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a charger that charges a user account for a transaction provided via a plurality of networks on a real time basis;
a determiner that determines a plurality of portions of the charge that should be distributed to a plurality of providers involved in providing the prepaid transaction via the plurality of networks; and
a sender that settles with the providers for the pre-paid transaction via the plurality of networks according to the determined plurality of portions. - View Dependent Claims (93, 94, 95)
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96. A method of providing mobile commerce, electronic commerce, customer care and communication services via a plurality of networks, the method comprising:
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receiving in a roaming network from a user device, an identification number and a request for a service;
forwarding from the roaming network, to a home network, the identification number, the request for the service, and adding a service provider identification number that relates to a service provider and a cost or rate of the service, if the service is to be charged;
verifying, by a convergent communication platform located on the home network, that the identification number relates to a valid user account, that the user device is authorized to receive the service and that the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for the service;
providing an authorization to the service provider, if the identification number relates to the valid user account, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the valid user account has sufficient value, if the service is to be charged; and
charging the valid user account on a real time basis, for providing the service, if the service is to be charged. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129)
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113. An apparatus that provides mobile commerce, electronic commerce, customer care and communication services via a plurality of networks, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver that receives an identification number from a user device, and a request for a service, a service provider identification number that relates to a service provider and a cost or rate of the service, if the service is to be charged from a roaming network;
a determiner that determines, by a convergent communication platform located on the home network, whether the identification number relates to a valid user account, if the user device is authorized to receive the service and if the valid user account has sufficient value to pay for the service;
a sender that provides an authorization to the service provider, if the identification number relates to the valid user account, the user device is authorized to receive the service and the valid user account has sufficient value, if the service is to be charged; and
a charger that charges the valid user account on a real time basis, for providing the service, if the service is to be charged.
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Specification