Replenishment of pre-paid wireless telephone accounts using short message service (SMS)

• US 6,934,529 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telenity, Inc. (I3g LLC)
• Original Assignee: Telenity, Inc. (I3g LLC)
• Inventors: Ertas, Burak, Ozulkulu, Esref Salih, Koca, Cem, Serbetcioglu, Bekir Sami, Bagoren, Sevket Ilhan
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agosta, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US09/788,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/408, 455/410, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/466, 379/114.16, 379/114.17, 379/144.01, 235/380, 235/381, 705/26, 705/39
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/26 with real-time recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection user is asked if he wants to recharge or not
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method for replenishing a pre-paid telecommunications account utilizes the short message service (SMS). When an account balance is low, a pre-paid service control point (PP-SCP) sends a message to a pre-paid payment server which composes an SMS message and sends it to a short message service center (SMSC). The SMSC forwards the message to a mobile switching center (MSC) which passes the message to the subscriber'"'"'s mobile unit. A confirmation message is automatically sent in a similar manner back to the pre-paid payment server. To replenish the account, the subscriber composes an SMS message using the mobile unit and sends the message to an MSC which forwards it to the pre-paid payment server via an SMSC. The pre-paid payment server validates the request via a billing and finance system, then sends a message to the PP-SCP for account update.

Claims

1. A method for replenishing a pre-paid telecommunications account, said method comprising:

a) composing an SMS message using a mobile unit, the message including a requested replenishment amount;

b) sending the SMS message to a pre-paid payment server;

c) validating the message at the pre-paid payment server, said validating including determining whether the account associated with the mobile unit has sufficient funds/credit to disburse the requested replenishment amount;

d) if the message is valid, replenishing the account,

e) monitoring the account database;

f) determining when the subscriber account is due for replenishment;

g) sending an SMS message to the mobile unit indicating that the account is due for replenishment and indicating the account balance;

h) automatically generating a confirmation message at the mobile unit; and

i) sending the confirmation message to the pre-paid payment server via SMS.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the message includes a PIN, and

said step of validating includes verifying the PIN.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of validating includes communicating with a billing and financial system.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of replenishing includes accessing a pre-paid mobile subscriber account database.

5. An apparatus for replenishing a pre-paid telecommunications account, said apparatus comprising:

a) a mobile unit having means for sending and receiving SMS messages;

b) a pre-paid payment server having means for sending and receiving SMS messages;

c) means for validating a replenishment request received as an SMS message; and

d) means for replenishing the account in response to a validated replenishment request received as an SMS message;

e) means for monitoring an account database;

f) means for determining when the subscriber account is due for replenishment; and

g) means for sending an SMS message to the mobile unit indicating that the account is due for replenishment and indicating the account balance;

h) means for automatically generating a confirmation message at the mobile unit; and

i) means for automatically sending the confirmation message to the pre-paid payment server via SMS, wherein

the replenishment request includes a requested replenishment amount and

said means for validating includes means for determining whether the account associated with the mobile unit has sufficient funds/credit to disburse the requested replenishment amount.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

the replenishment request includes a PIN, and

said means for validating includes means for authenticating the PIN.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

e) a billing and financial system, wherein

said means for validating includes means for communicating with the billing and financial system.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein;

said means for replenishing includes means for accessing a pre-paid mobile subscriber account database.