Package billing for micro-transactions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for billing a mobile device user for a services and/or goods requested by the user, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a message request from the mobile service that is directed to the mobile device user;
determining if the mobile service utilizes a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price;
processing, in the event that the mobile service utilizes a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, the received message request by;
determining if the received message is the first message of the predefined package to be sent to the user;
sending to the user, in the event that the received message is the first message of the predefined package, a premium message containing a price code that represents the package price; and
sending to the user, in the event that the received message is not the first message of the predefined package, a standard message which does not contain a price code; and
processing, in the event that the mobile service does not utilize a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, the received message request by sending to the user a premium message containing a price code that represents a single-message price which is different than the package price.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and system for billing a mobile device user for a services and/or products requested by the user, in which a message request is received from the mobile service that is directed to the mobile device user, and wherein the mobile phone user is charged only once for a predefined amount or number of message-related services or products, thereby making the billing experience clearer to the user.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method for billing a mobile device user for a services and/or goods requested by the user, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a message request from the mobile service that is directed to the mobile device user;
determining if the mobile service utilizes a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price;
processing, in the event that the mobile service utilizes a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, the received message request by;
determining if the received message is the first message of the predefined package to be sent to the user;
sending to the user, in the event that the received message is the first message of the predefined package, a premium message containing a price code that represents the package price; and
sending to the user, in the event that the received message is not the first message of the predefined package, a standard message which does not contain a price code; and
processing, in the event that the mobile service does not utilize a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, the received message request by sending to the user a premium message containing a price code that represents a single-message price which is different than the package price. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system for billing a mobile device user for a services and/or products requested by the user, the system comprising:
-
a message interface unit in communication with multiple mobile phone carriers and the mobile service;
a database unit in communication with the message interface unit, the database unit containing mobile service data corresponding to the mobile service requested by the user and indicating whether the mobile service utilizes a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, and also containing message balance data indicating a message credit balance that corresponds to a number of remaining standard messages that are allowed to the user according to the predefined package of premium messages and standard messages; and
a database billing engine unit that operates in conjunction with the database, the database engine unit executing code to perform the steps of;
receiving a message request from the mobile service that is directed to the mobile device user;
determining if the mobile service utilizes a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price;
processing, in the event that the mobile service utilizes a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, the received message request by;
determining if the received message is the first message of the predefined package to be sent to the user;
sending to the user, in the event that the received message is the first message of the predefined package, a premium message containing a price code that represents the package price; and
sending to the user, in the event that the received message is not the first message of the predefined package, a standard message which does not contain a price code; and
processing, in the event that the mobile service does not utilize a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, the received message request by sending to the user a premium message containing a price code that represents a single-message price which is different than the package price. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification