Mobile communications billing architecture

• US 7,945,240 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bowman, Beverly Ann, Ballot, Deborah L., Womac, Selena G., Klock, Jacqueline, Heil, Kenneth Dale, Winter, Rebecca
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer; Temica M
• Application Number:
  US11/383,187
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 455406-408, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A telecommunications payment system which includes a transaction component that facilitates the communication of at least billing and payment information to at least one of a plurality of mobile terminals. In operation the carrier will cause the transaction component to communicate an SMS message to the mobile terminal that includes a billing notification message. The notification message can include a current account balance, including total and past due, if applicable, the user'"'"'s last payment method, and personal financial account data such as the last four digits of a credit card and/or bank account file. When providing the proper reply, payment processing is initiated such that an amount of funds will be transferred from the user'"'"'s financial institution to the carrier back-office systems or its financial institution.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates billing and payment of postpaid mobile services, comprising:

a mobile terminal that processes a short message service (SMS) message; and

a transaction component that facilitates communication of an account notification message to the mobile terminal via the SMS message, whereupon wherein, in response to receipt of the account notification message, a menu is presented via which a selection from the menu facilitates payment of a mobile services bill; and

an artificial intelligence component that employs at least one of a probabilistic or statistical-based analysis to prognose or infer an action to be performed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the SMS message further comprises a method of payment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the account notification message is communicated before the payment is due.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the account notification message includes payment data and payment of the bill is initiated via the transaction component.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the account notification message includes at least one of current balance data, last payment method, or personal financial account data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein receipt of the account notification message is selectable.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the SMS message facilitates presentation of the menu via which an interactive voice response (IVR) system is accessed.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the SMS message facilitates presentation of the menu via which remaining call time balance data on an account is accessed.

9. A method of facilitating billing and payment of postpaid mobile services, comprising computer-executable acts of:

at least one of probabilistically or statistically analyzing including prognosing or inferring an action to be performed associated with mobile services of a user account;

generating an SMS message associated with the mobile services of the user account;

communicating an account notification message over a cellular network to a mobile terminal via the SMS message;

processing the account notification message at the mobile terminal for payment data, including at least personal financial account data associated with the user account;

displaying a menu that corresponds to the payment data specific to information representing a user; and

initiating payment of the mobile services via the mobile terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the payment data further includes data related to at least one of total current balance, current past due balance, or last payment method.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of initiating includes payment of one of total current account balance or current past due account balance.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a confirmation message that the payment has been received.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the communicating is performed before a payment is due.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising appending last payment method data to the notification message prior to the communicating.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving the account notification message, wherein the receiving is selectable by user input.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the displaying allows access to remaining call time balance data on the user account.

17. A system that facilitates billing and payment of postpaid mobile services, comprising:

means for employing a probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis to prognose or infer an action to be automatically performed regarding payment of mobile services;

means for processing an SMS message to a mobile terminal associated with a user account that has been subscribed to the system;

means for communicating an account notification message to the mobile terminal via the SMS message;

means for receiving the account notification message; and

means for displaying a menu corresponding to the account notification message, wherein the account notification message includes at least one of current account balance data, last payment method, or personal financial account data of associated with the user account.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for initiating payment, wherein the menu includes a selection to facilitate payment of the mobile services bill associated with the user account.