Premium SMS billing method

• US 20060149644A1
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Copley Collection Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pilgrim Telephone Incorporated
• Inventors: Egendorf, Andrew, Sulmar, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US11/029,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149644A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• 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 20/42 Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method of billing for products and services wherein a user makes a voice call to a telephone number from a mobile telephone, interacts with a human or computer operator to learn about audio-text products and services offered by a vendor, and then agrees verbally or by pressing one or more DTMF keys on the user'"'"'s mobile telephone'"'"'s keypad to have the charge for the purchase placed on the user'"'"'s mobile telephone bill. The service is then provided while the call still is connected, and after the call is terminated, an MT-PSMS message is sent to the user to place the charge on the user'"'"'s mobile telephone bill.

Claims

1. A method of billing for products and services comprising the steps by a vendor of products or services of:

a. providing a telephone number to enable a user of a mobile telephone network having a voice channel and a control channel to access a vendor of products or services by a voice call from a mobile telephone number;

b. during the call presenting the user with the option of purchasing at least one product or service at a stated purchase price from the vendor;

c. during the call obtaining the agreement of the user to purchase the at least one product or service and to pay therefor by having the stated purchase price billed to the mobile telephone number by an agreement procedure requiring the user to enter input over the voice channel;

d. obtaining the mobile telephone number; and

e. sending an MT-PSMS message to the mobile telephone number over the control channel whereby the amount of the stated purchase price is charged to the mobile telephone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input by the user over the voice channel comprises at least one of verbal and DTMF inputs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vendor obtains the mobile telephone number by using ANI or MIN, Caller ID, DTMF input by the user, or verbal input by the user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the vendor obtains the mobile telephone number by using ANI or MIN, Caller ID, DTMF input by the user, or verbal input by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the MT-PSMS message is sent to the mobile telephone number during the telephone call.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the MT-PSMS message is sent to the mobile telephone number during the telephone call.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the MT-PSMS message is sent to the mobile telephone number during the telephone call.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the MT-PSMS message is sent to the mobile telephone number during the telephone call.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the MT-PSMS message is sent to the mobile telephone number after the telephone call.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the MT-PSMS message is sent to the mobile telephone number after the telephone call.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the MT-PSMS message is sent to the mobile telephone number after the telephone call.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the MT-PSMS message is sent to the mobile telephone number after the telephone call.

13. The method of any of claims 1-12, wherein the product or service is delivered before sending the MT-PSMS message.

14. The method of any of claims 1-12, wherein the product or service is delivered after sending the MT-PSMS message.

15. The method of any of claims 1-12, wherein the product or service is audio-text, a token usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services, or a PIN usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the product or service is audio-text, a token usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services, or a PIN usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the product or service is audio-text, a token usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services, or a PIN usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services.

18. A method of billing for products and services comprising the steps by a vendor of products or services of:

a. providing a toll-free telephone number to enable a user of a mobile telephone network having a voice channel and a control channel to access a vendor of products or services by a voice call from a mobile telephone number;

b. during the call presenting the user with the option of purchasing audio-text services from the vendor at a stated purchase price;

c. during the call obtaining the agreement of the user to purchase audio-text services and to pay therefor by having the stated purchase price billed to the mobile telephone number by an agreement procedure requiring the user to enter at least one of verbal and DTMF inputs over the voice channel;

d. obtaining the mobile telephone number by using ANI or MIN; and

e. sending an MT-PSMS message to the mobile telephone number over the control channel whereby the amount of the stated purchase price is charged to the mobile telephone number.

19. A method of billing for products and services comprising the steps by a vendor of products or services of:

a. providing a telephone number to enable a user of a mobile telephone network having a voice channel and a control channel to access a vendor of products or services by a voice call from a mobile telephone number;

b. during the call presenting the user with the option of purchasing at least one product or service at a stated purchase price from the vendor;

c. during the call obtaining the agreement of the user to purchase the at least one product or service and to pay therefor by having the stated purchase price billed to the mobile telephone number by an agreement procedure requiring the user to enter input over the voice channel;

d. obtaining the mobile telephone number; and

e. receiving an MO-PSMS message sent from the mobile telephone number over the control channel whereby the amount of the stated purchase price is charged to the mobile telephone number.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the input by the user over the voice channel comprises at least one of verbal and DTMF inputs.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the vendor obtains the mobile telephone number by using ANI or MIN, Caller ID, DTMF input by the user, or verbal input by the user.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the vendor obtains the mobile telephone number by using ANI or MIN, Caller ID, DTMF input by the user, or verbal input by the user.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the MO-PSMS message is received from the mobile telephone number during the telephone call.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the MO-PSMS message is received from the mobile telephone number during the telephone call.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the MO-PSMS message is received from the mobile telephone number during the telephone call.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the MO-PSMS message is received from the mobile telephone number during the telephone call.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the MO-PSMS message is received from the mobile telephone number after the telephone call.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the MO-PSMS message is received from the mobile telephone number after the telephone call.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the MO-PSMS message is received from the mobile telephone number after the telephone call.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the MO-PSMS message is received from the mobile telephone number after the telephone call.

31. The method of any of claims 19-30, wherein the product or service is delivered before receiving the MO-PSMS message.

32. The method of any of claims 19-30, wherein the product or service is delivered after receiving the MO-PSMS message.

33. The method of any of claims 19-30, wherein the product or service is audio-text, a token usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services, or a PIN usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the product or service is audio-text, a token usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services, or a PIN usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the product or service is audio-text, a token usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services, or a PIN usable from a telephone or computer to access audio-text services.

36. A method of billing for products and services comprising the steps by a vendor of products or services of:

a. providing a toll-free telephone number to enable a user of a mobile telephone network having a voice channel and a control channel to access a vendor of products or services by a voice call from a mobile telephone number;

b. during the call presenting the user with the option of purchasing audio-text services from the vendor at a stated purchase price;

c. during the call obtaining the agreement of the user to purchase audio-text services and to pay therefor by having the stated purchase price billed to the mobile telephone number by an agreement procedure requiring the user to enter at least one of verbal and DTMF inputs over the voice channel;

d. obtaining the mobile telephone number by using ANI or MIN; and

e. receiving an MO-PSMS message sent from the mobile telephone number over the control channel whereby the amount of the stated purchase price is charged to the mobile telephone number.