Method and system for value transfer between mobile-phone users
First Claim
1. A method for providing value-exchange through a mobile-telephone network, the method comprising:
- storing minutes in a minutes account for mobile-telephone-network users; and
providing an interface to a first mobile-telephone-network user that allows the first mobile-telephone-network user to transfer minutes from the first mobile-telephone-network user'"'"'s minutes account to a minutes account belonging to a second mobile-telephone-network user.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to enhancing mobile-phone networks to allow mobile-phone users to exchange value among themselves through mobile-phone networks. In certain embodiments of the present invention, mobile-phone users exchange value among themselves by exchanging minutes of mobile-phone usage purchased by the mobile-phone users from their carrier-service providers. Minutes-based value exchanges are particularly useful in developing countries, where users may not have bank accounts, and where the overheads associated with traditional financial transactions are too great to allow for use of traditional-financial-transaction services to carry out the many relatively low-value transactions in which mobile-phone users may wish to engage. The exchange of minutes among mobile-phone users, as well as between mobile-phone users and commercial enterprises, can facilitate currently existing small-value-exchange markets as well as create whole new types of markets previously impractical due to the high overheads associated with value exchanges through traditional traditional-financial-transaction services.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for providing value-exchange through a mobile-telephone network, the method comprising:
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storing minutes in a minutes account for mobile-telephone-network users; and providing an interface to a first mobile-telephone-network user that allows the first mobile-telephone-network user to transfer minutes from the first mobile-telephone-network user'"'"'s minutes account to a minutes account belonging to a second mobile-telephone-network user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for electronic value exchange, the system comprising:
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a first mobile phone; a second mobile phone; and a carrier service that interconnects the first mobile phone with the second mobile phone for exchange of voice signals and text messages; maintains a first minutes account on behalf of a first user of the first mobile phone; maintains a second minutes account on behalf of a second user of the second mobile phone; and a user interface that allows the first user to transfer minutes from the first user'"'"'s minutes account to the second user'"'"'s minutes account. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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15. A system for electronic value exchange, the system comprising:
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a number of mobile phones; a carrier service that interconnects the number of mobile phones for exchange of voice signals and text messages; and maintains minutes accounts, stored value accounts, debit accounts, and IOU accounts on behalf of carrier-service subscribers; and a user interface that allows carrier-service subscribers to create minutes accounts, IOU accounts, and stored-value accounts, transfer minutes and other stored value among the various accounts belonging to a carrier-service subscriber, and transfer minutes from one carrier-service subscriber'"'"'s minutes account to another carrier-service subscriber'"'"'s minutes account.
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Specification