METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING CREDIT FOR SUBSCRIBERS OF MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
First Claim
1. A method for managing credit for mobile subscribers, the method comprising:
- maintaining individual credit accounts for multiple different mobile subscribers;
maintaining a credit pool that holds pooled credit from the individual credit accounts, wherein the credit pool has a credit pool balance;
incrementally prepaying for an anticipated consumption of mobile communications services by the multiple different mobile subscribers using credit from the credit pool, wherein the incremental prepayments are made in credit increments that are smaller than the credit pool balance such that credit remains in the individual credit accounts of the multiple different mobile subscribers; and
allowing credit that remains in the individual credit accounts of the multiple different mobile subscribers to be used as currency for other transactions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for managing credit for subscribers of mobile communications services involves using a mobile credit intermediary to manage the credit in a way that makes the credit more fungible than traditional prepaid mobile subscription plans. In an embodiment, the mobile credit intermediary maintains a credit pool that reflects pooled credit of a group of multiple different mobile subscribers and then incrementally purchases, using the credit pool, prepaid mobile minutes in quantities that reflect anticipated consumption of mobile communications services by the group. The incremental purchases are made in increments that are smaller than the balance of the credit pool such that credit remains in individual credit accounts of the mobile subscribers. The credit that remains in the individual credit accounts can be used as a currency for other transactions, for example, for the purchase of goods and services from entities other than the mobile network operator.
38 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for managing credit for mobile subscribers, the method comprising:
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maintaining individual credit accounts for multiple different mobile subscribers; maintaining a credit pool that holds pooled credit from the individual credit accounts, wherein the credit pool has a credit pool balance; incrementally prepaying for an anticipated consumption of mobile communications services by the multiple different mobile subscribers using credit from the credit pool, wherein the incremental prepayments are made in credit increments that are smaller than the credit pool balance such that credit remains in the individual credit accounts of the multiple different mobile subscribers; and allowing credit that remains in the individual credit accounts of the multiple different mobile subscribers to be used as currency for other transactions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for managing credit for mobile subscribers, the method comprising:
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maintaining individual credit accounts for mobile subscribers in a group of mobile subscribers; anticipating consumption of mobile communications services by the group of mobile subscribers; incrementally prepaying for the anticipated consumption of mobile communications services by the group of mobile subscribers using credit that is pooled from the individual credit accounts of the group of mobile subscribers, wherein the incremental prepayments are small enough that credit remains in the individual credit accounts of the mobile subscribers in the group; and allowing credit that remains in the individual credit accounts of the mobile subscribers in the group to be used by the respective mobile subscribers as currency for other transactions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for managing credit for mobile subscribers, the system comprising:
a mobile credit intermediary that interfaces between multiple different mobile subscribers and a mobile network operator, the mobile credit intermediary comprising; a credit account manager configured to maintain individual credit accounts for the multiple different mobile subscribers; a credit pool manager configured to maintain a credit pool that holds pooled credit from the individual credit accounts, wherein the credit pool has a credit pool balance; a predictive usage modeler configured to anticipate consumption of mobile communications services by the multiple different mobile subscribers; a recharge engine configured to incrementally prepay the mobile network operator for the anticipated consumption of mobile communications services by the multiple different mobile subscribers using credit from the credit pool, wherein the incremental prepayments are made in credit increments that are smaller than the credit pool balance such that credit remains in the individual credit accounts of the multiple different mobile subscribers; an account reconciler configured to deduct credit from the individual credit accounts in response to actual consumption of mobile communications services; and a transaction engine configured to allow credit that remains in the credit accounts of the multiple different mobile subscribers to be used by the multiple different mobile subscribers as currency for other transactions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification