Dynamically providing communication accounts using a communication account system

• US 7,849,170 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Hargens, Michael K., Temming, Jo
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US09/628,831
• Time in Patent Office: 3,781 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 709/1, 709/17, 709/40, 709/4, 709/223, 705/1, 705/17, 705/40, 705/44, 705/77
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• 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 20/40 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 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• 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 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• 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 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A communication account system for dynamically providing communication accounts to communication devices for immediate transfer to users. The communication account system comprises a communication account server and an interface system coupled to the communication account server. The communication account server is configured to validate a communication device in response to a communication account request message from the communication device, associate a communication account with the communication device in response to the validation, and generate a response message indicating the communication account in response to the association. The interface system is configured to receive the first message from the communication device and transfer the second message to the communication device for the communication account server.

Claims

1. A method of providing communication accounts to end users from a plurality of web sites, the method comprising:

in a first web site of the plurality of web sites, transferring a first communication account request over an internet to an account server in response to a first transaction between a first end user of the end users and the first web site;

in the account server, validating the first web site in response to receiving the first communication account request, selecting a first account code for the first end user in response to validating the first web site, and transferring the first account code over the internet to the first web site;

in the first web site, transferring the first account code over the internet to the first end user, wherein the first end user uses the first account code to obtain a first communication service from a communication service provider;

in a second web site of the plurality of web sites, transferring a second communication account request over the internet to the account server in response to a second transaction between a second end user of the plurality of end users and the second web site;

in the account server, validating the second web site in response to receiving the second communication account request, selecting a second account code for the second end user in response to validating the second web site, and transferring the second account code over the internet to the second web site; and

in the second web site, transferring the second account code over the internet to the second end user, wherein the second end user uses the second account code to obtain a second communication service from the communication service provider.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication service comprises a prepaid communication service.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication service comprises a wireless communication service.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication service comprises an internet access service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first account code comprises a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first account code comprises a password.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication account request identifies the first end user and the second communication account request identifies the second end user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication account request identifies a first monetary amount and the second communication account request identifies a second monetary amount.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in the account server, selecting a first monetary amount for the first account code and selecting a second monetary amount for the second account code.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in the account server, selecting a first time amount for the first account code and selecting a second time amount for the second account code.

11. A system to provide communication accounts to end users, the system comprising:

a first web server configured to transfer a first communication account request over an internet to an account server in response to a first transaction between a first end user of the end users and the first web server;

a second web server configured to transfer a second communication account request over the internet to the account server in response to a second transaction between a second end user of the end users and the second web server;

the account server configured to validate the first web server in response to receiving the first communication account request, select a first account code for the first end user in response to validating the first web server, transfer the first account code over the internet to the first web server, validate the second web server in response to receiving the second communication account request, select a second account code for the second end user in response to validating the second web server, and transfer the second account code over the internet to the second web server;

the first web server further configured to transfer the first account code over the internet to the first end user, wherein the first end user uses the first account code to obtain a first communication service from a communication service provider; and

the second web server further configured to transfer the second account code over the internet to the second end user, wherein the second end user uses the second account code to obtain a second communication service from the communication service provider.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first communication service comprises a prepaid communication service.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first communication service comprises a wireless communication service.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the first communication service comprises an internet access service.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the first account code comprises a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the first account code comprises a password.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the first communication account request identifies the first end user and the second communication account request identifies the second end user.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the first communication account request identifies a first monetary amount and the second communication account request identifies a second monetary amount.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the account server is further configured to select a first monetary amount for the first account code and select a second monetary amount for the second account code.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the account server is further configured to select a first time amount for the first account code and select a second time amount for the second account code.