System and method for supplying communication service

• US 20030172031A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Merrill Brooks, Graves, Phillip Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,333,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• 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 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/25 using a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2506 code input or reading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2512 from communication terminal display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2518 from material card, using a magnetic stripe card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2537 : code reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2556 : code type
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2562 : alphanumeric
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2593 : code management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 : Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 : involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 : Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers

Abstract

A system and method for supplying communication service value is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes distributing indicia of an identifier to a merchant for distribution to a customer having a customer account. The identifier has an associated service value that is redeemable with a plurality of carriers. The method further includes activating the identifier upon distribution of the indicia to the customer, receiving a request from the customer to add the associated service value to the customer account, and adding the associated service value to the customer account is disclosed. In a further embodiment, the request includes identifier input and customer account input, and receiving a request from the customer to add the associated service value of the identifier to the customer account further includes verifying the identifier input and verifying the customer account input.

Claims

1. A method for supplying communication service value comprising the steps of:

distributing indicia of an identifier to a merchant for distribution to a customer having a customer account, the identifier having an associated service value, the associated service value being redeemable with a plurality of carriers;

activating the identifier upon distribution of the indicia to the customer;

receiving a request from the customer to add the associated service value to the customer account; and

adding the associated service value to the customer account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia is located on an article.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the article is a magnetic strip card.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the article is a smart card.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the article is a card having a bar code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a PIN.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated service value is represented in dollars.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated service value is represented in an amount of communication service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution of indicia to the customer includes receiving payment for the associated service value from the customer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer account is represented by a MIN.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the identifier upon distribution of the indicia to the customer, further includes:

receiving a communication of the distribution of the indicia to the customer; and

updating a status indicator for the identifier from inactive to active.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes identifier input and customer account input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving a request from the customer to add the associated service value of the identifier to the customer account, further includes:

verifying the identifier input; and

verifying the customer account input.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of verifying the identifier input, further includes:

accepting identifier input associated with the identifier from the customer;

determining that the identifier is represented in an identifier database;

determining that the identifier is active; and

determining that the identifier has not been redeemed.

15. The method of claim 14, further including identifying the associated service value for the identifier.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of verifying the customer account input, further includes:

accepting customer account input associated with the customer account from the customer; and

determining that the customer account is represented in a customer account database.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of verifying the customer account input, further includes identifying a carrier associated with the customer account.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of verifying the customer account input, further includes:

determining that a carrier region code is required based on the carrier;

requesting carrier region code input from the customer; and

accepting carrier region code input from the customer.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the associated service value to the customer account, further includes:

determining that the carrier supports adding service value to carrier managed customer accounts;

accessing a carrier system associated with the carrier; and

adding the service value to the customer account.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of adding the associated service value to the customer account, further includes obtaining updated customer account information upon adding the service value to the customer account.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the updated customer account information includes an updated customer account balance reflecting the adding of the service value to the customer account.

22. A method for supplying communication service value comprising the steps of:

establishing a set of identifiers at a central system, each identifier having an associated service value being redeemable with a plurality of carriers;

distributing indicia of at least some of the identifiers to a plurality of merchants for distribution;

activating by the central system a first identifier associated with a first indicia upon communication from the merchant of distribution of the first indicia to a customer having a customer account;

receiving by the central system a request from the customer to add the associated service value to the customer account; and

directing by the central system addition of the associated service value to the customer account.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the request includes identifier input and customer account input.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of receiving by the central system a request from the customer to add the associated service value to the customer account, further includes:

verifying by the central system the identifier input; and

verifying by the central system the customer account input.

25. A system for supplying communication service value comprising:

a central system, the central system being adapted for;

distributing indicia of an identifier to a merchant for distribution to a customer having a customer account, the identifier having an associated service value, the associated service value being redeemable with a plurality of carriers;

activating the identifier upon distribution of the indicia to the customer;

receiving a request from the customer to add the associated service value to the customer account; and

adding the associated service value to the customer account.