Package billing for micro-transactions
First Claim
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1. A method for billing a mobile device user for a service, application, content, information, product, or some combination thereof (services) requested by the mobile device user, the method comprising the steps of:
- making the services available through an online community;
receiving a request from the mobile device user for the services;
determining if a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price is associated with the requested services and the mobile device user;
processing, in the event that a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price is associated with the requested services, the received request by;
determining if the received request is the first request associated with the predefined package;
causing, in the event that the received message is the first request associated with the predefined package, a premium message containing a price code that represents the package price to be sent to the mobile device user; and
causing, in the event that the received request is not the first request associated with the predefined package, a standard message which does not contain a price code to be sent to the mobile device user; and
processing, in the event that a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price is not associated with the requested services, the received request by causing a premium message containing a price code that represents a single-message price which is different than the package price to be sent to the mobile device user.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and system for billing a mobile device user for a services and/or products requested by the user, in which a message request is received from the mobile service that is directed to the mobile device user, and wherein the mobile phone user is charged only once for a predefined amount or number of message-related services or products, thereby making the billing experience clearer to the user.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for billing a mobile device user for a service, application, content, information, product, or some combination thereof (services) requested by the mobile device user, the method comprising the steps of:
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making the services available through an online community; receiving a request from the mobile device user for the services; determining if a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price is associated with the requested services and the mobile device user; processing, in the event that a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price is associated with the requested services, the received request by; determining if the received request is the first request associated with the predefined package; causing, in the event that the received message is the first request associated with the predefined package, a premium message containing a price code that represents the package price to be sent to the mobile device user; and causing, in the event that the received request is not the first request associated with the predefined package, a standard message which does not contain a price code to be sent to the mobile device user; and processing, in the event that a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price is not associated with the requested services, the received request by causing a premium message containing a price code that represents a single-message price which is different than the package price to be sent to the mobile device user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for billing a mobile device user for a service, application, content, information, product, or some combination thereof (services) requested by the user, the system comprising:
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a user area of an on-line community configured to provide access to a plurality of services to a plurality of users, including the mobile device user; a message interface unit in communication with multiple mobile phone carriers and the user area; a database unit in communication with the message interface unit and the user area, the database unit containing price data corresponding to the services requested by the user and indicating whether the services are associated with a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, and also containing message balance data indicating a message credit balance that corresponds to a number of remaining standard messages that are allowed to the mobile device user according to the predefined package of premium messages and standard messages; and a database billing engine unit that operates in conjunction with the database, the database engine unit executing code to perform the steps of; receiving information related to a request for the services by the mobile device user; determining if a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price is associated with the requested services and the mobile device user; processing, in the event that a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price is associated with the requested services, the received request by; determining if the received request is the first associated with the predefined package; in the event that the received request is the first associated with the predefined package, then causing a premium message containing a price code that represents the package price to be sent to the user; in the event that the received request is not the first associated with the predefined package, then causing a standard message which does not contain a price code to be sent to the user; and processing, in the event that the requested service is not associated with a predefined package of premium messages and standard messages corresponding to a package price, the received message request by causing a premium message containing a price code that represents a single-message price which is different than the package price to be sent to the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification