TRANSACTION PROCESSING PLATFORM FOR FACILITATING ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION OF PLURAL PREPAID SERVICES

• US 20100036743A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EWI Holdings Inc. (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EWI Holdings Inc. (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Hazel, Patrick K., Herbinaux, Larry, Tamari, Roni Dolev, Paschini, Miles, Rose, Marshall, New, Darren
• Granted Patent: US 10,296,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 : with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/201 : automatic recharging with predetermined amount at threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 : on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 : using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/22 : with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 : with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2593 : code management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• 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: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A transaction processing platform capable of facilitating the distribution to consumers of various types of prepaid products is disclosed. The transaction processing platform is configured to interface with one or more providers of such prepaid products in order to facilitate the procurement or activation of the products. The platform includes a conduit interface through which service request messages are received and respectively utilized to generate transaction requests for corresponding types of prepaid services. A supply interface arrangement, operatively coupled to the conduit interface, is configured to route a first of the transaction requests through a first supply interface associated with a first type of prepaid service. The supply interface arrangement also routes a second transaction request through a second supply interface associated with a second type of prepaid service. The platform is also configured to provide supplier response information received through the supply interfaces to the conduit interface.

Claims

1. A system for processing prepaid service transactions, the system comprising:

a conduit interface through which a first service request message and a second service request message are received and respectively utilized to generate a first transaction request for a first type of prepaid service and a second transaction request for a second type of prepaid service;

a supply interface arrangement, operatively coupled to the conduit interface, configured to route the first transaction request through a first supply interface associated with the first type of prepaid service and to route the second transaction request through a second supply interface associated with the second type of prepaid service wherein supplier response information received through the first supply interface and the second supply interface is provided to the conduit interface; and

a client terminal, operatively coupled to the conduit interface, configured to receive a user request for prepaid services.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said client terminal is a point of sale activation (POSA) terminal.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said POSA terminal is configured to interface to the PSTN.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said client terminal is configured to connect to the Internet.

5. A method for processing transactions involving prepaid services, the method comprising:

receiving, at a client terminal, a request for a first type of prepaid service;

generating, in response to said request for a first type of prepaid service, a first service request message;

receiving, at said client terminal, a request for a second type of prepaid service;

generating, in response to said request for a second type of prepaid service, a second service request message;

receiving, through a conduit interface, said first service request message and said second service request message;

generating, in response to said first service request message received through said conduit interface, a first transaction request for a first type of prepaid service;

generating, in response to said second service request message received through said conduit interface, a second transaction request for a second type of prepaid service;

routing the first transaction request to a first supply interface associated with the first type of prepaid service;

routing the second transaction request to a second supply interface associated with the second type of prepaid service; and

providing, based upon supplier activation information received through the first supply interface, a first service activation response to the conduit interface.

7. A system for providing prepaid services comprising:

A client terminal configured to interface to a platform for processing prepaid services comprising;

a conduit interface through which a first service request message and a second service request message are received and respectively utilized to generate a first transaction request for a first type of prepaid service and a second transaction request for a second type of prepaid service; and

a supply interface arrangement, operatively coupled to the conduit interface, configured to route the first transaction request through a first supply interface associated with the first type of prepaid service and to route the second transaction request through a second supply interface associated with the second type of prepaid service wherein supplier response information received through the first supply interface and the second supply interface is provided to the conduit interface.

8. A method for processing transactions involving prepaid services, the method comprising:

receiving, at a client terminal, a request for a first type of prepaid service and a request for a second type of prepaid services, wherein said client terminal is operatively coupled to a processing platform configured to;

generate, in response to said request for a first type of prepaid service, a first service request message;

generate, in response to said request for a second type of prepaid service, a second service request message;

receive, through a conduit interface, said first service request message and said second service request message;

generate, in response to said first service request message received through said conduit interface, a first transaction request for a first type of prepaid service;

generate, in response to said second service request message received through said conduit interface, a second transaction request for a second type of prepaid service;

route the first transaction request to a first supply interface associated with the first type of prepaid service;

route the second transaction request to a second supply interface associated with the second type of prepaid service; and

provide, based upon supplier activation information received through the first supply interface, a first service activation response to the conduit interface; and

receiving, at said client terminal, said first service activation response.