Method and apparatus for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services

• US 20050164739A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Briancon, Alain Charles Louis, Goldberg, Steven Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3229 Use of the SIM of a M-device as secure element
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• 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 15/745 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 15/775 Account specifications on parallel communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/785 Reserving amount on the account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/853 Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• 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 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 2215/0168 : On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• 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 2215/0196 : 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 2215/42 : Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 : Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7277 : Account specifications on parallel communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7295 : Reserve amount, e.g. according to estimated costs for a typical communication duration or according to the estimated volume to be transferred
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 : Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/815 : Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8162 : Calculate maximum communication time or volume

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services. A calling electronic device communicates alternative payment provider data to a network via a communications link. The network examines costs charged by a plurality of alternative payment providers indicated by the alternative payment provider data. The network determines and contacts the most cost-efficient payment provider to determine if the contacted payment provider will accept responsibility for paying for at least a portion of the communication services.

Claims

1. In a communication system which provides a communications link between a calling electronic device and a called electronic device via at least one network, the calling electronic device having access to alternative payment provider data, a method for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services, the method comprising:

(a) the calling electronic device communicating the alternative payment provider data to the network via the communications link;

(b) the network examining costs charged by a plurality of alternative payment providers indicated by the alternative payment provider data;

(c) the network determining the most cost-efficient payment provider; and

(d) the network contacting the most cost-efficient payment provider to determine if the contacted payment provider will accept responsibility for paying for at least a portion of the communication services.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the calling electronic device with a subscribing identity module (SIM) card and inserting the alternative payment provider data into said SIM card.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said SIM card is removably inserted into the calling electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the alternative payment provider data entered into the SIM card is transferred to another storage device in the calling electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said calling electronic device is one of a group of devices including a wireless cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), facsimile apparatus and self propelled vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said network includes a first public land mobile network (PLMN) which is the home network for the calling electronic device and a second PLMN visited by said calling electronic device during a roaming mode, wherein said second PLMN receives said alternative payment provider data from said calling electronic device and forwards said data to said first PLMN for subsequent transfer to a selected one of a plurality of alternative payment providers identified by said alternative payment provider data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a home public land mobile network (PLMN) servicing said calling electronic device, whereby said alternative payment provider data is stored in a storage device in said calling electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said calling electronic device is a wireless mobile cell phone, and said storage device is a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, whereby said alternative payment provider data is stored in said SIM card, and said SIM card is removably inserted into said mobile cell phone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises:

(c1) determining the one of the plurality of alternative payment providers that provides the best economic awards.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the awards include one or more of the following:

points, prizes and bonuses.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein if the most cost-efficient payment provider will not accept responsibility for paying at least a portion of the communication services, the network contacting the second-most cost-efficient payment provider.

12. A communication system for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services, the system comprising:

at least one network; and

a calling electronic device having access to alternative payment provider data, wherein the calling electronic device communicates the alternative payment provider data to the network, the network examines costs charged by a plurality of alternative payment providers indicated by the alternative payment provider data and determines the most cost-efficient payment provider, and the network contacts the most cost-efficient payment provider to determine if the contacted payment provider will accept responsibility for paying for at least a portion of the communication services.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said alternative payment provider data is stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) card which is removably inserted into the calling electronic device.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the network determines the one of the plurality of alternative payment providers that provides the best economic awards.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the awards include one or more of the following:

points, prizes and bonuses.

16. A communication network for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services, the network comprising:

(a) means for receiving alternative payment provider data from a calling electronic device;

(b) means for examining costs charged by a plurality of alternative payment providers indicated by the alternative payment provider data;

(c) means for determining the most cost-efficient payment provider; and

(d) means for contacting the most cost-efficient payment provider to determine if the contacted payment provider will accept responsibility for paying for at least a portion of the communication services.

17. The network of claim 16 wherein the network determines the one of the plurality of alternative payment providers that provides the best economic awards.

18. The network of claim 17 wherein the awards include one or more of the following:

points, prizes and bonuses.