System and Method for Adding Funds to a Prepaid Account for a Mobile Device Associated with Multiple Communication Profiles

• US 20140128034A1
• Filed: 01/09/2014
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 7-Tel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: 7-Tel Incorporated
• Inventors: Xu, Richard H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,965,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/45 using multiple identity modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A communication management system receives, from a local cellular network operator, a communication indicating that a payment has been made to the local cellular network operator for a mobile device using a local communication profile. The communication management system identifies, based on the local communication profile, a home communication profile of the mobile device. The home communication profile is associated with a home cellular network operator that is distinct from the local cellular network operator. The communication management system sends, to the home cellular network operator, a request to add funds to a prepaid account that is associated with the home communication profile of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for dynamically receiving a local communication profile at a mobile device, the method comprising:

at a mobile device having one or more processors and memory, the memory storing a plurality of communication profiles of the same communication type;

determining local access requirements for connecting to a local cellular network operator;

determining whether the plurality of communication profiles comprise a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements; and

when the plurality of communication profiles does not comprise a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements;

connecting to a communication management system;

receiving, from the communication management system, a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements;

connecting to the local cellular network operator using the local communication profile; and

communicating with another device via the local cellular network operator as if the mobile device was a local mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication management system is a cellular network operator, and the connecting to the communication management system further comprises connecting to the cellular network operator using a communication profile of the one or more communication profiles.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication management system is a global cellular network operator, and the connecting to the communication management system further comprises connecting to the global cellular network operator using a global communication profile of the one or more communication profiles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory includes a SIM card and the plurality of communication profiles are stored on the SIM card.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the plurality of communication profiles comprises a respective local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements, connecting the mobile device to the local cellular network operator using the respective local communication profile.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to determining the local access requirements:

requesting, using a respective local communication profile of the one or more communication profiles, connection to the local cellular network operator;

in response to the request, receiving information that identifies a location of the mobile device without being connected to the local cellular network operator; and

wherein determining the local access requirements is based on the location of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the plurality of communication profiles comprises a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements comprises searching the one or more communication profiles for a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements, wherein the searching comprises comparing one or more of the communication profiles to an identifier of the local cellular network operator to identify a communication profile associated with the local cellular network operator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

connecting to the first cellular network operator using the first communication profile comprises connecting the mobile device to the first cellular network operator via one of a first plurality of cellular nodes associated with the first cellular network operator;

connecting to the local cellular network operator using the local communication profile comprises connecting the mobile device to the local cellular network operator via one of a second plurality of cellular nodes associated with the local cellular network operator; and

network coverage provided by the first plurality of cellular nodes extends over a larger geographical area than network coverage provided by the second plurality of cellular nodes, wherein cellular network access fees charged by the first cellular network operator for communications from a respective geographic region are higher than cellular network access fees charged by the local cellular network operator for communications from the respective geographic region.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting to the first cellular network operator using the first communication profile comprises:

loading the first communication profile as an active communication profile;

requesting registration with the first cellular network operator using the first communication profile; and

receiving, in response to the request, registration information from the first cellular network operator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the local communication profile is received as a SMS message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting to the local cellular network operator using the new local communication profile comprises:

loading the new local communication profile as the active communication profile;

sending a request to register with the local cellular network operator using the new local communication profile; and

receiving, in response to the request, registration information from the local cellular network operator.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the mobile device further comprises a home communication profile for connecting the mobile device to a home cellular network operator; and

the plurality of communication profiles are managed by a communication management system, while the home communication profile is managed by the home cellular network operator.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device continues to use the first communication profile to communicate with other devices via the first cellular network operator until the local communication profile is received.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication type is GSM.

15. A mobile device comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing a plurality of communication profiles comprising one or more local communication profiles and a global communication profile; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

determining local access requirements for connecting to a local cellular network operator;

determining whether the plurality of communication profiles comprises a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements; and

when the plurality of communication profiles does not comprise a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements;

connecting to a communication management system;

receiving, from the communication management system, a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements;

connecting to the local cellular network operator using the local communication profile; and

communicating with another device via the local cellular network operator as if the mobile device was a local mobile device.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the communication management system is a cellular network operator, and the instructions for connecting to the communication management system further comprise instructions for connecting to the cellular network operator using a communication profile of the one or more communication profiles.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the communication management system is a global cellular network operator, and the instructions for connecting to the communication management system further comprise instructions connecting to the global cellular network operator using a global communication profile of the one or more communication profiles.

18. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the memory includes a SIM card and the plurality of communication profiles are stored on the SIM card.

19. The mobile device of claim 15, further comprising instructions for, prior to determining the local access requirements:

requesting, using a respective local communication profile of the one or more communication profiles, connection to the local cellular network operator;

in response to the request, receiving information that identifies a location of the mobile device without being connected to the local cellular network operator; and

wherein determining the local access requirements is based on the location of the mobile device.

20. A method for dynamically providing a local communication profile to a mobile device, the method comprising:

at a communication management system having one or more processors and memory;

receiving, from a communication management system, a request to connect a mobile device to the communication management system;

enabling the mobile device to connect to the communication management system;

sending, to the mobile device, via the communication management system, a local communication profile that enables the mobile device to obtain access to a local cellular network operator;

receiving, from the local cellular network operator, a request to connect the mobile device to the local cellular network operator using the local communication profile; and

enabling the mobile device to connect to the local cellular network operator.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a plurality of communication profiles comprising one or more local communication profiles and a global communication profile and one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a mobile device, the one or more programs comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors cause the mobile device to:

determining local access requirements for connecting to a local cellular network operator;

determine whether the plurality of communication profiles comprises a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements; and

when the plurality of communication profiles does not comprise a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements;

connect to a communication management system;

receive, from the communication management system, a local communication profile that satisfies the local access requirements;

connect to the local cellular network operator using the local communication profile; and

communicate with another device via the local cellular network operator as if the mobile device was a local mobile device.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium is a SIM card and the plurality of communication profiles are stored on the SIM card.