Method and apparatus for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services

• US 7,546,944 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Paik; Steven S
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/082,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/492, 455/432.1, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/435.2
• 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

A method and apparatus for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services. A calling electronic device communicates alternative payment provider data to a network via a communications link. The network examines costs charged by a plurality of alternative payment providers indicated by the alternative payment provider data. The network determines and contacts the most cost-efficient payment provider to determine if the contacted payment provider will accept responsibility for paying for at least a portion of the communication services.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services, the method comprising:

receiving, from a calling electronic device, payment provider data that identifies a plurality of alternative payment providers;

receiving, from the calling electronic device, a request for establishing a communications link between the calling electronic device and a called electronic device;

contacting a first one of the alternative payment providers to request acceptance of a payment request associated with the communications link; and

contacting a second one of the alternative payment providers upon refusal of the first alternative payment provider to accept responsibility for the payment request, without need for further interfacing with a user of the calling electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment provider data is stored in a subscriber identity module (SIM) card which is removably inserted into the electronic calling device, wherein the electronic calling device is a mobile unit that communicates the payment provider data to a network via a communications link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic calling device is one of a group of devices including a wireless cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), and a facsimile apparatus.

4. A network comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a calling electronic device, payment provider data that identifies a plurality of alternative payment providers, the receiver being further configured to receive, from the calling electronic device, a request for establishing a communications link between the calling electronic device and a called electronic device; and

a transmitter configured to contact a first one of the alternative payment providers to request acceptance of a payment request associated with the communications link, and contact a second one of the alternative payment providers upon refusal of the first alternative payment provider to accept responsibility for the payment request, without need for further interfacing with a user of the calling electronic device.