System and Method for Operator Charging Gateway

• US 20070250399A1
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sybase 365 Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Sybase 365 Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Lovell, Robert, Dudley, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

An Operator Charging Gateway (OCG) facility within a Mobile Commerce environment that, among other things, provides a bearer-independent and delivery-agnostic charging platform that, inter alia, (a) uncouples all of the particulars of the delivery of content, services, etc. from the myriad of activities, challenges, etc. of charging and (b) adds substantial value to each of the involved parties (including, for example, Mobile Subscribers, Operators, Merchants, etc.). Within a wireless messaging ecosystem an OCG may leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located, full-featured Value-Added Service Provider.

Claims

1. A method for operating an operator charging gateway, comprising:

receiving a purchase authorization from a content provider, said purchase authorization having been triggered by a purchase request for a product or service from a mobile subscriber;

sending a purchase reservation to an operator providing service to said mobile subscriber;

receiving from said mobile subscriber a reservation acknowledgement in response to said purchase reservation;

in response to said reservation acknowledgement, sending a reservation confirmation to said content provider that authorizes said content provider to deliver the product or service to said mobile subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said reservation acknowledgement includes at least one SMS message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said reservation acknowledgement includes at least one MMS message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a rollback request from said content provider;

performing one or more processing steps on said rollback request including at least initiating rollback with said operator; and

returning a rollback acknowledgement of said rollback request to said content provider.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said rollback acknowledgement includes at least one SMS message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said rollback acknowledgement includes at least one MMS message.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting fraudulent activities.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing financial transactions according to one of a plurality of billing models.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one of said billing models is a revenue share model.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

settling financial transactions.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising rating said purchase authorization associated with said purchase request using a universal rating engine.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said universal rating engine determines a price for said product or service based on a predetermined pricing structure.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said universal rating engine determines a price for said product or service based on a predetermined contract structure.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said universal rating engine re-rates a price for a previously rated product or service.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said universal rating engine estimates message volume projections to calculate an amount for a volume-sensitive amount plan.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising responding to an inquiry about an amount charged.

4-6. -6. (canceled)

10. (canceled)