Method and system for selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services

• US 6,913,191 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2004
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Briancon, Alain Charles Louis, Goldberg, Steven Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Stcyr, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US10/791,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 455/432.1, 455/434, 455/435.2, 455/435.1, 455/452.2, 455/456.3, 455406-408, 379/114.02, 379/114.22, 379/114.23, 379/121.03, 379/114.01
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3229 Use of the SIM of a M-device as secure element
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/775 Account specifications on parallel communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/785 Reserving amount on the account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/853 Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• 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 2215/0108 : Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 : On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 : involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• 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 2215/42 : Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 : Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7277 : Account specifications on parallel communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7295 : Reserve amount, e.g. according to estimated costs for a typical communication duration or according to the estimated volume to be transferred
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 : Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/815 : Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8162 : Calculate maximum communication time or volume

Abstract

Method and apparatus for use in a variety of communications systems providing one or more payment alternatives for communication services and automatically selecting of a group of alternative payment techniques while significantly reducing the amount of interactive activity required from the user. Upon entry of a request to establish communications between calling and called electronic devices, the system initially looks towards a primary service provider. Absent acceptance of the request for service by the primary service provider, for whatever reason, the system automatically reverts to an alternative service provider and/or payment provider by searching data provided by the user and coupled to the electronic device for which a communication link is requested, eliminating the need for any further input by the user in the form of redialing the call, providing data through insertion of a debit or credit card, for example, identifying the alternative payment provider. The data identifying alternative service/payment providers may be contained in a card or chip removably insertable into the electronic device or in a storage device incorporated therein. Capability may be provided for choosing the most economic service/payment provider to be selected for honoring the request for service.

Claims

1. In a communication system providing a communications link between a calling electronic device and a called electronic device via at least one network, the calling electronic device having access to alternative payment provider data, a method for selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services, the method comprising:

(a) the calling electronic device communicating the alternative payment provider data to the network via a communications link; and

(b) based on the alternative payment provider data, the network contacting a plurality of alternative payment providers in order to find one that will accept responsibility for paying for the communication services, wherein the network examines costs charted by the alternative payment providers and determines the most cost-efficient payment provider.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the calling electronic device with a subscribing identity module (SIM) card and inserting the alternative payment provider data into said SIM card.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said SIM card is removably inserted into the calling electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the alternative payment provider data entered into the SIM card is transferred to another storage device in the calling electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said calling electronic device is one of a group of devices including a wireless cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), facsimile apparatus and self propelled vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said network includes a first public land mobile network (PLMN) which is the home network for the calling electronic device and a second PLMN visited by said calling electronic device during a roaming mode, wherein said second PLMN receives said alternative payment provider data from said calling electronic device and forwards said data to said first PLMN for subsequent transfer to a selected one of a plurality of alternative payment providers identified by said alternative payment provider data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a home public land mobile network (PLMN) servicing said calling electronic device, whereby said alternative payment provider data is stored in a storage device in said calling electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said calling electronic device is a wireless mobile cell phone, and said storage device is a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, whereby said alternative payment provider data is stored in said SIM card, and said SIM card is removably inserted into said mobile cell phone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein one alternative payment provider identified by said alternative payment provider data provides credit card services for the calling electronic device and, upon acceptance of said payment request, provides authorization to said network to provide the communication services.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein one alternative payment provider identified by said alternative payment provider data provides debit card services for the calling electronic device and, upon acceptance of said payment request, provides authorization to said network to provide the communication services.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a preferred alternative payment provider identified by said alternative payment provider data provides calling card services for the calling electronic device and, upon acceptance of said payment request, provides authorization to said network to provide the communication services.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein one alternative payment providers identified by said alternative payment provider data provides pre-paid calling card services for the calling electronic device and, upon acceptance of said payment request, provides authorization to said network to provide the communication services.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing subscriber authorization data in the calling electronic device requiring that the network requests a user of the calling electronic device to authorize the communications link in addition to one of the alternative payment providers accepting responsibility for said payment request, and further including said network requesting said user to provide authorization responsive to receipt of the subscriber authorization data;

and

said user transmitting a signal via the calling electronic device to the network responsive to the request for authorization.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the network, upon receipt of a signal transmitted by the user indicating a refusal to authorize payment, terminates the communications link.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the network, upon receipt of a signal transmitted by the user indicating authorization of payment, completes the communications link.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said network, responsive to receipt of a request from a user of the calling electronic device, calculates a cost of establishing a communications link and conveys the calculated cost to an alternative payment provider identified by the alternative payment provider data.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the calculation takes into account factors affecting a cost of the communications link.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the calculation determines the time of day, day of week, nature of the information to be transmitted, and distance between calling and called electronic devices.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

said network contacting the most cost-efficient payment provider requesting authorization to provide the communication services.

20. A communication system for selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services, the system comprising:

at least one network; and

a calling electronic device having access to alternative payment provider data, wherein;

said calling electronic device communicates alternative payment provider data to said network via a communications link; and

based on the alternative payment provider data, said network contacts a plurality of alternative payment providers to find one that will accept responsibility for paying for the communication services, wherein the network examines costs charged by the alternative payment providers and requests the most cost efficient one of the alternative payment providers to accept responsibility for paying for the communication services.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said alternative payment provider data is stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) card which is removably inserted into the calling electronic device.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said calling electronic device is one of a group of devices including a wireless cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), facsimile apparatus, and self propelled vehicle.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein said network includes a first public land mobile network (PLMN) which is the home network for the calling electronic device and a second PLMN visited by said calling electronic device during a roaming mode, wherein said second PLMN receives said alternative payment provider data from said calling electronic device and forwards said data to said first PLMN for subsequent transfer to a selected one of a plurality of alternative payment providers identified by said alternative payment provider data.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein said network comprises a home public land mobile network (PLMN) servicing said calling electronic device, whereby said alternative payment provider data is stored in a storage device in said calling electronic device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said calling electronic device is a wireless mobile cell phone, and said storage device is a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, whereby said alternative payment provider data is stored in said SIM card, and said SIM card is removably inserted into said mobile cell phone.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein one of said alternative payment providers provides credit card services for the calling electronic device and, upon acceptance of a request for payment from said network, provides authorization to said network to provide the communication services.

27. The system of claim 20 wherein one of said alternative payment providers provides debit card services for the calling electronic device and, upon acceptance of a request for payment from said network, provides authorization to said network to provide the communication services.

28. The system of claim 20 wherein a preferred one of said alternative payment providers provides calling card services for the calling electronic device and, upon acceptance of a request for payment from said network, provides authorization to said network to provide the communication services.

29. The system of claim 20 wherein one of said alternative payment providers provides pre-paid calling card services for the calling electronic device and, upon acceptance of a request for payment from said network, provides authorization to said network to provide the communication services.

30. The system of claim 20 wherein the data identifying said alternative service providers further includes subscriber authorization data requiring that the network requests the a user of the calling electronic device to authorize the communications link in addition to one of the alternative payment providers identified by the alternative payment provider data accepting responsibility for said payment request, wherein said user transmits a signal via the calling electronic device to the network responsive to the request for authorization.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said network, upon receipt of a signal transmitted by the user indicating a refusal to authorize payment, terminates the communications link.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein said network, upon receipt of a signal transmitted by the user indicating the user'"'"'s authorization of payment, completes the communications link.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein said network, responsive to receipt of a request from said user, calculates a cost of establishing a communications link and conveys the calculated cost to an alternative payment provider identified by the alternative payment provider data.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the calculated cost takes into account factors affecting a cost of the communications link.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein the calculated cost is determined based on the time of day, day of week, nature of the information to be transmitted, and distance between calling and call parties.

36. In a communication system providing a communications link between a calling electronic device and a called electronic device via at least one network, the calling electronic device having access to alternative payment provider data, a method for selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services, the method comprising:

(a) the calling electronic device communicating the alternative payment provider data to the network via a communications link; and

(b) based on the alternative payment provider data, the network contacting a plurality of alternative payment providers in order to find one that will accept responsibility for paying for the communication services, wherein the network includes a first public land mobile network (PLMN) which is the home network for the calling electronic device and a second PLMN visited by the calling electronic device during a roaming mode, wherein the second PLMN receives the alternative payment provider data from the calling electronic device and forwards the data to the first PLMN for subsequent transfer to a selected one of a plurality of alternative payment providers identified by the alternative payment provider data.

37. In a communication system providing a communications link between a calling electronic device and a called electronic device via at least one network, the calling electronic device having access to alternative payment provider data, a method for selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services, the method comprising:

(a) the calling electronic device communicating the alternative payment provider data to the network via a communications link;

(b) based on the alternative payment provider data, the network contacting a plurality of alternative payment providers in order to find one that will accept responsibility for paying for the communication services;

(c) storing subscriber authorization data in the calling electronic device requiring that the network requests the user of the calling electronic device to authorize the communications link in addition to one of the alternative payment providers accepting responsibility for the payment request;

(d) the network requesting the user to provide authorization responsive to receipt of the subscriber authorization data; and

(e) the user transmitting a signal via the calling electronic device to the network responsive to the request for authorization.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the network, upon receipt of a signal transmitted by a user of the calling electronic device indicating a refusal to authorize payment, terminates the communications link.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the network, upon receipt of a signal transmitted by a user of the calling electronic device indicating authorization of payment, completes the communications link.

40. In a communication system providing a communications link between a calling electronic device and a called electronic device via at least one network, the calling electronic device having access to alternative payment provider data, a method for selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services, the method comprising:

(a) the calling electronic device communicating the alternative payment provider data to the network via a communications link; and

(b) based on the alternative payment provider data, the network contacting a plurality of alternative payment providers in order to find one that will accept responsibility for paying for the communication services, wherein the network, responsive to receipt of a request from a user of the calling electronic device, calculates a cost of establishing a communications link and conveys the calculated cost to an alternative payment provider identified by the alternative payment provider data.

41. A communication system for selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services, the system comprising:

at least one network; and

a calling electronic device having access to alternative payment provider data, wherein said network includes a first public land mobile network (PLMN) which is the home network for the calling electronic device and a second PLMN visited by said calling electronic device during a roaming mode, wherein said second PLMN receives said alternative payment provider data from said calling electronic device and forwards said data to said first PLMN for subsequent transfer to a selected one of a plurality of alternative payment providers identified by said alternative payment provider data.