Communication services payment method and system

• US 7,593,714 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mock, Von A., Schultz, Charles P., Fernandez, Juan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/166,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20070003034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/114.17, 379/114.2, 379/130, 379/144.01, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/414.1, 705/26, 705/27, 705/34, 705/44
• US Class Current: 455/407
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• 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 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• 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 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• 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: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method (10) of payment of communication services includes determining (14) if a request (12) for services is an essential service or non-essential service, determining (19) if a device and/or user is authorized for non-essential service, and determining (20) if there are sufficient pre-pay funds for the non-essential service. The method can further include rejecting (26) the request for non-essential service if the device and/or user is unauthorized or if insufficient pre-pay funds exist. The method grants (16) the request if the request is for essential service (such as voice services). The essential service or subscription or post-pay service can be added (18) to a recurring bill. If the device and/or user is authorized and sufficient prepay funds exist, then the method grants (22) the request for the non-essential service. In response or in conjunction with granting, the method can deduct (24) funds from prepay funds upon granting the request.

Claims

1. A method of payment of communication services, comprising the steps of:

determining if a request for services is an essential service or a non-essential service;

if the request is for a non-essential service, determining if a device and/or user is authorized for non-essential service;

if authorized, determining if there is sufficient pre-pay funds for the non-essential service; and

rejecting the request for the non-essential service if the device or user is not authorized or if there are insufficient pre-pay funds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the essential service is a subscription or post-pay service and the method further comprises the step of granting the request if the request is for the essential service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of adding the subscription or post pay service to a periodic bill.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of granting the request for the non-essential service if the device or user is authorized and if there are sufficient prepay funds.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises the step of deducting funds from the prepay funds upon granting the request for the non-essential service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of suspending one or more non-essential services by using at least one among a web interface or a push to suspend function on a wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of rewarding the device with prepaid funds.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of establishing a maximum amount of funds that can be transferred using prepaid funds over a predetermined period of time.

9. A wireless device, comprising:

a transceiver; and

at least one processor in communication with the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to;

determine if a request for services is an essential service or a non-essential service;

if the request is for a non-essential service, determine if a device or user is authorized for non-essential service;

if authorized, determine if there are sufficient pre-pay funds for the non-essential service; and

reject the request for the non-essential service if the device or user is not authorized or if there are insufficient pre-pay funds.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the essential service is a subscription or post-pay service and the processor is further programmed to grant the request if the request is for the essential service.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to add the subscription or post-pay service to a periodic bill.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to grant the request for the non-essential service if the device or user is authorized and if there are sufficient prepay funds.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is further programmed to deduct funds from the prepay funds upon granting the request for the non-essential service.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further programmed to suspend one or more non-essential services by using at least one among a web interface or a push to suspend function on the wireless device.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is further programmed to reward the device with prepaid funds.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is further programmed to enable the establishment of a maximum amount of funds that can be transferred using prepaid funds over a predetermined period of time.

17. A machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of.

determine if a request for services is an essential service or a non-essential service;

if the request is for a non-essential service, determine if a device or user is authorized for non-essential service;

if authorized, determine if there are sufficient pre-pay funds for the non-essential service;

reject the request for the non-essential service if the device or user is not authorized or if there are insufficient pre-pay funds.

18. The machine-readable storage of claim 17, wherein the machine-readable storage is further programmed to grant the request for the non-essential service if the device or user is authorized and if there are sufficient prepay funds.

19. The machine-readable storage of claim 18, wherein the machine-readable storage is further programmed to deduct funds from the prepay funds upon granting the request for the non-essential service.

20. The machine-readable storage of claim 17, wherein the machine-readable storage is further programmed to suspend one or more non-essential services by using at least one among a web interface or a push to suspend function on the wireless device.