System and method for replenishing a wireless terminal account

• US 7,209,890 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peon, Roberto, Lowance, Catherine Meade, Treadway, Luisa, Cotton, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/177,620
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 705/21, 705/18, 705/17, 705/16, 705/24, 235/375, 455/407, 455/408, 455/406
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment

Abstract

A system and method for replenishing a wireless terminal account of a customer of a telecommunication service provider. In one embodiment the method includes transmitting through a point-of-sale device a merchant identification, a customer mobile identification number and an amount to the telecommunication service provider. The method also includes validating the merchant identification and crediting the customer account. The method may include delivering a merchant confirmation to the point-of-sale device and delivering a customer confirmation to the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal.

Claims

1. A method for replenishing a wireless terminal account of a customer of a telecommunication service provider, the method comprising:

transmitting through a point-of-sale device a merchant identification, a customer mobile identification number for a wireless terminal of the customer for which the wireless terminal account corresponds such that the replenishment allows for continued use of the wireless terminal, and a monetary amount to the telecommunication service provider;

validating the merchant identification by comparing the merchant identification against a table comprising a plurality of merchant identifications and corresponding point-of-sale device identification numbers, wherein a point-of-sale identification number associated with the point-of-sale device is automatically transmitted at the initiation of a communication from the point-of-sale device to initiate replenishment of the wireless terminal account;

crediting the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal account in accordance with the monetary amount;

delivering a merchant confirmation message about the crediting of the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal account to the point-of-sale device; and

delivering a customer confirmation message about the crediting of the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal account to the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal for which the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal account corresponds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale device is a wireless handset.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale device is connected to a credit card scanner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchant confirmation message is a text message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer confirmation message is a text message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer confirmation message is a telephone call message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer confirmation message is a voice message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein in addition to the customer confirmation message to the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal, the method further comprises providing a receipt to the customer from the merchant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting includes communicating interactively.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting includes communicating via an interactive voice response module.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein validating includes comparing against a database of the telecommunication service provider.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a point-of sale identification number to the telecommunication service provider for validation.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a calling number identification for the point-of sale device to the telecommunication service provider for validation.

14. A system for replenishing a wireless terminal account of a customer of a telecommunication service provider, the system comprising:

a point-of-sale device operable to transmit a merchant identification, a mobile identification number for the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal that corresponds to the wireless terminal account such that replenishing the wireless terminal account provides for continued use of the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal, and an amount to the telecommunication service provider;

a storage device for storing customer and merchant records; and

a processor in communication with the storage device and operable to validate the merchant identification by comparing the merchant identification against a table comprising a plurality of merchant identifications and corresponding point-of-sale device identification numbers, wherein a point-of-sale identification number associated with the point-of-sale device is automatically transmitted at the initiation of a communication from the point-of-sale device to initiate replenishment of the wireless terminal account, wherein the processor is further operable to validate a point-of-sale identification number associated with the point-of-sale device against the merchant identification in a database table, and validate the mobile identification number by comparing the mobile identification number against a table of active mobile identification numbers, to credit the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal account in accordance with the amount and to transmit a merchant confirmation message about the credit to the point-of-sale device and a customer confirmation message about the credit to the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal that corresponds to the wireless terminal account.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the point-of-sale device includes a wireless handset.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the point-of-sale device is connected to a credit card scanner.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the point-of-sale device is connected to a cash register.

18. The system of claim 14, further including an interactive voice response module in communication with the processor.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the merchant confirmation message is a text message.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the customer confirmation message is a text message.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the customer confirmation message is a voice message.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein in addition to the customer confirmation message to the wireless terminal, the point-of-sale device generates a receipt from the merchant to the customer.

23. A system for replenishing a wireless terminal account of a customer of a telecommunication service provider, the system comprising:

means for transmitting a merchant identification, a mobile identification number for the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal that corresponds to the wireless terminal account such that replenishment provides for continued use of the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal, and an amount to the telecommunication service provider;

means for storing customer and merchant records; and

processing means in communication with the storage means for validating the merchant identification by comparing the merchant identification against a table comprising a plurality of merchant identifications and corresponding point-of-sale device identification numbers, wherein a point-of-sale identification number associated with the means for transmitting is automatically transmitted at the initiation of a communication from the means for transmitting to initiate replenishment of the wireless terminal account, validating the mobile identification number by comparing the mobile identification number against a table of active mobile identification numbers, crediting the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal account in accordance with the amount and transmitting a merchant confirmation message about crediting the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal account to the means for transmitting and a customer confirmation message about crediting the customer'"'"'s wireless terminal account to the wireless terminal corresponding to the wireless terminal account.