Methods, systems, and products for purchasing pre-paid services

• US 20080046357A1
• Filed: 07/29/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ruckart, John, Myers, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for purchasing prepaid services. A request to purchase a prepaid service is received. The request includes a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service and a device number that uniquely identifies a requesting device. The service number and the device number are communicated for activation, and a verification message is received indicating the prepaid service has been successfully activated.

Claims

1. A method for purchasing prepaid services, comprising:

receiving a request to purchase a prepaid service, the request comprising a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service and a device number that uniquely identifies a requesting device;

communicating the service number and the device number for activation; and

receiving a verification message that the prepaid service has been successfully activated.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a PIN code associated with the service number.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises receiving a credit card account number to process as payment for the prepaid service.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of processing payment information for the prepaid service.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises receiving a Mobile Identification Number that that uniquely identifies the requesting device.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising receiving a prepaid amount to credit towards activation of the Mobile Identification Number.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises receiving a wafer lot number and a microprocessor number, the wafer lot number identifying a wafer lot from which the microprocessor was manufactured, and the microprocessor number uniquely identifying a microprocessor manufactured from the wafer lot and operating in the requesting device that sends the request.

8. A system, comprising:

an activation application stored in memory; and

a processor communicating with the memory,

the processor receives a request to purchase a prepaid service, the request comprising a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service and a device number that uniquely identifies a requesting device;

the processor communicates the service number and the device number for activation; and

the processor receives a verification message that the prepaid service has been successfully activated.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor receives a PIN code associated with the service number.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor receives a credit card account number to process as payment for the prepaid service.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor processes payment information for the prepaid service.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor receives a Mobile Identification Number that that uniquely identifies the requesting device.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the processor receives a prepaid amount to credit towards activation of the Mobile Identification Number.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor receives a wafer lot number and a microprocessor number, the wafer lot number identifying a wafer lot from which the microprocessor was manufactured, and the microprocessor number uniquely identifying a microprocessor manufactured from the wafer lot and operating in the requesting device that sends the request.

15. A computer program product storing computer code for performing the steps:

receiving a request to purchase a prepaid service, the request comprising a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service and a device number that uniquely identifies a requesting device;

communicating the service number and the device number for activation; and

receiving a verification message that the prepaid service has been successfully activated.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer code for receiving a PIN code associated with the service number.

17. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer code for receiving a credit card account number to process as payment for the prepaid service.

18. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer code for processing payment information for the prepaid service.

19. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer code for receiving a Mobile Identification Number that that uniquely identifies the requesting device.

20. A computer program product according to claim 15, further comprising computer code for receiving a wafer lot number and a microprocessor number, the wafer lot number identifying a wafer lot from which the microprocessor was manufactured, and the microprocessor number uniquely identifying a microprocessor manufactured from the wafer lot and operating in the requesting device that sends the request.