Method and system for refilling mobile telephone prepaid phone cards via electronic distribution of refill codes

• US 7,031,693 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Invuo Technologies AB
• Original Assignee: Invuo Technologies AB
• Inventors: Signarsson, Mikael, Närling, Kent, Öhrström, Fredrik, Edsbäcker, Peter, Wingert, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Binh K.
• Application Number:
  US10/244,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/408, 455/410, 455/414, 379/114.15, 379/114.16, 379/114.18, 379/114.2, 379/115.01, 379/144.01, 379/144.05, 705/40, 705/41
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• 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 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Method and system for refilling mobile terminal prepaid phone cards via electronic distribution of refill codes. Refill codes for prepaid phone cards are distributed to end users via a prepaid phone card distributor, which contracts with mobile phone operators and prepaid phone card retailers to distribute refill codes. End users enter identification and payment information to the refill code distributor, which then records the payment and returns a refill code to the end users. End users can purchase refill codes by mediums including a computer network and refill terminals located at retail shops.

Claims

1. A method for effecting delivery of a refill code by a distributor of refill codes to an end user of prepaid telecommunications services associated with a provider of said services, comprising the steps of:

displaying refill code types, each refill code associated with one of a plurality of providers to an end user at a station, said station being linked to a computer network and having a visual display;

receiving a refill code request from said end user;

obtaining a refill code corresponding to said refill code request;

reserving a refill code for said end user prior to securing payment from said end user;

delivering said refill code to said end user by at least one of electronic mail, facsimile, short message system, visual display at said station, physical display on a printed medium, voice mail, and,

transmitting said refill code to said provider in association of said refill code with said end user'"'"'s telephone number for crediting said end user'"'"'s telephone number;

wherein said refill code information is displayed to said end user on a web site of a distributor and said web site of said distributor having one appearance of a plurality of appearances, said appearance is associated with a retailer and each of said plurality of appearance is associated with a different retailer.

2. The method as in claim 1, the step of obtaining a refill code further comprising:

encrypting said refill code; and

storing said encrypted refill code.

3. The method as in claim 1, the step of obtaining a refill code further comprising:

obtaining said refill code from at least one of said distributor, an operator, a provider of telecommunication services, and a random number generator.

4. The method as in claim 1, the step of obtaining a refill code further comprising:

obtaining said refill code from an inventory of refill codes maintained by said distributor.

5. The method as in claim 1, the step of delivering further comprising:

delivering said refill code upon proof of payment therefor by said end user.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein said refill code has been associated with said provider.

7. The method as in claim 1, additionally comprising the step of:

delivering said refill code upon proof of payment therefor by said end user.

8. The method as in claim 1, additionally comprising the step of:

delivering said refill code upon proof of payment therefor by said retailer.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein payment for said refill code is effected by credit card.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein payment for said refill code is made to said retailer or said distributor.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein:

said refill code information comprises a plurality of refill code types; and

, said refill code request comprises selection of a refill code type.

12. The method as in claim 1, comprising prior to the step of delivering said refill code the steps of:

receiving from said end user an address for delivery to said end user of a verification code;

delivering said verification code to said address; and

,

receiving said verification code from said end user.

13. The method as in claim 1, wherein payment for said refill code is effected by funds transfer.

14. The method as in claim 1, wherein payment for said refill code is effected by charging an account authorized for use by said end user.

15. The method as in claim 14, wherein said account is associated with said retailer.

16. The method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said end user and said retailer provides method of payment information to said distributor prior to delivery of said refill code.

17. The method as in claim 1, wherein said retailer receives a commission on the refill code delivered by said distributor.

18. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of tracking refill statistics for said end user.

19. A method for effecting delivery of a refill code by a distributor of refill codes to an end user of prepaid telecommunications services associated with a provider of said services, comprising the steps of

displaying refill code types, each refill code associated with one of a plurality of providers to an end user at a station, said station being linked to a computer network and having a visual display;

receiving a refill code request from said end user

obtaining a refill code corresponding to said refill code request;

delivering said refill code to said end user by at least one of electronic mail, facsimile, short message system, visual display at said station, physical display on a printed mediums, voice mails,

transmitting said refill code to said provider in association of said refill code with said end user'"'"'s telephone number for crediting said end user'"'"'s telephone number; and

receiving from said end user delivery information indicating how said refill code is to be delivered to said end user;

wherein said refill code information is displayed to said end user on a web site of a distributor and said web site of said distributor having one appearance of a plurality of appearances, said appearance is associated with a retailer and each of said plurality of appearance is associated with a different retailer.

20. A system for effecting delivery of a refill code by a distributor of refill codes for resale to an end user of prepaid telecommunications services associated with a provider of said services, comprising:

a refill code inventory containing available refill codes;

an interface occupied by a set of refill code types, each refill code in inventory having been assigned a corresponding refill code type and having been associated with a provider;

a processor receiving a refill code type request and obtaining an available refill code of said requested type from said inventory and upon delivery thereof designating said obtained refill code as an unavailable refill code;

means for replenishing an end user'"'"'s prepaid telecommunications services account with said obtained refill code upon receiving at least one of verification of said end user and said end user'"'"'s telephone number;

means for reserving a refill code for said end user prior to securing payment from said end user; and

a database having a plurality of appearances and each of said plurality of appearance is associated with a different retailer and said appearance associated with said retailer is displayed to said end user when receiving said refill code.

21. The system as in claim 20, further comprising means for tracking refill statistics for said end user.