Methods, systems, and products for purchasing pre-paid services

• US 7,965,827 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2006
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Myers, Jerome, Ruckart, John
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/495,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,788 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.15, 379/114.16, 379/114.19, 379/114.2, 379/121.01, 705/14.37, 705/14.38, 455405-409
• US Class Current: 379/114.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for purchasing prepaid services. A request to purchase a prepaid service is received. The request includes a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service and a device number that uniquely identifies a requesting device. The service number and the device number are communicated for activation, and a verification message is received indicating the prepaid service has been successfully activated.

Claims

1. A method for purchasing prepaid services, comprising:

receiving a request at a point of sale terminal to purchase a prepaid service, the request comprising a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service, a wafer lot number that identifies a wafer lot from which a processor in an end user'"'"'s requesting device was manufactured, and a prepaid amount for credit towards activation of the prepaid service;

sending the service number, the wafer lot number, and the prepaid amount in an activation message to an activation database that stores a listing of devices approved for the prepaid service;

storing an association in the activation database between the service number, the wafer lot number, and the prepaid amount that adds the wafer lot number to the listing of devices approved for the prepaid service; and

sending a verification message to the point of sale terminal that indicates the prepaid service has been successfully activated for the end user'"'"'s requesting device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a personal identification number associated with the service number.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a credit card account number to process as payment for the prepaid service.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising processing payment information for the prepaid service.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a microprocessor number uniquely identifying the processor manufactured from the wafer lot and operating in the end user'"'"'s requesting device.

6. A system, comprising:

a processor executing code stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive a request at a point of sale terminal to purchase a prepaid service, the request comprising a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service, a wafer lot number that identifies a wafer lot from which a processor in an end user'"'"'s requesting device was manufactured, and a prepaid amount for credit towards activation of the prepaid service;

send the service number, the wafer lot number, and the prepaid amount in an activation message to an activation database that stores a listing of devices approved for the prepaid service;

an association in the activation database between the service number, the wafer lot number, and the prepaid amount that adds the wafer lot number to the listing of devices approved for the prepaid service; and

send a verification message to the point of sale terminal that indicates the prepaid service has been successfully activated for the end user'"'"'s requesting device.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising code that causes the processor to receive a personal identification number associated with the service number.

8. The system according to claim 6, further comprising code that causes the processor to receive a credit card account number to process as payment for the prepaid service.

9. The system according to claim 6, further comprising code that causes the processor to process payment information for the prepaid service.

10. The system according to claim 6, further comprising code that causes the processor to receive a wafer lot number and a microprocessor number uniquely identifying the processor manufactured from the wafer lot and operating in the end user'"'"'s requesting device.

11. A computer readable medium storing computer code for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a request at a point of sale terminal to purchase a prepaid service, the request comprising a service number that uniquely identifies the prepaid service, a wafer lot number that identifies a wafer lot from which a processor in an end user'"'"'s requesting device was manufactured, and a prepaid amount for credit towards activation of the prepaid service;

sending the service number, the wafer lot number, and the prepaid amount in an activation message to an activation database that stores a listing of devices approved for the prepaid service;

storing an association in the activation database between the service number, the wafer lot number, and the prepaid amount that adds the wafer lot number to the listing of devices approved for the prepaid service; and

sending a verification message to the point of sale terminal that indicates the prepaid service has been successfully activated for the end user'"'"'s requesting device.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11, further comprising computer code for receiving a personal identification number associated with the service number.

13. The computer program product according to claim 11, further comprising computer code for receiving a credit card account number to process as payment for the prepaid service.

14. The computer program product according to claim 11, further comprising computer code for processing payment information for the prepaid service.

15. The computer program product according to claim 11, further comprising computer code for receiving a microprocessor number uniquely identifying the processor manufactured from the wafer lot and operating in the end user'"'"'s requesting device.