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Operating a communications infrastructure on a pre-payment basis

  • US 20030120595A1
  • Filed: 11/07/2002
  • Published: 06/26/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a communications infrastructure having a plurality of metered resources, the method involving:

  • recording pre-payment of an amount by a user for use of the metered resources;

    distributing at least a portion of said amount as credit values held in user-specific virtual purses each associated with a respective said metered resource; and

    upon use of a metered resource by the user, correspondingly reducing the credit value held in the associated purse, with use of the resource being dependent on the credit value in the purse being above a predetermined threshold.

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