Systems and methods for monitoring “pay-as-you-go” telecommunication services

• US 8,295,458 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pay As You Go, LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: Simplexity LLC d/b/a Wirefly (Simplexity)
• Inventors: Wills, Harold S., Steinberg, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour, Melody
• Application Number:
  US13/278,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20120082301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/408, 455/407, 455/26.1, 455/421, 455/453, 455/405, 455/409, 379/122, 379/114.2, 379/114.23, 379/116, 379/118, 379/120, 379/124, 379/127.01, 379/134, 379/114.01, 379/37
• US Class Current: 379/114.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1414 in real-time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Telecommunication services systems and methods are disclosed. The telecommunication services systems and methods preferably enable the user and/or the responsible party to make payments as the user uses the telecommunication services. The systems and methods may also be employed to provide the user and/or the responsible party with specialized pricing options and other customized services.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing pay-as-you-go internet services to a user comprising:

assigning an account identifier for a pay-as-you-go internet service to a user for conducting one or more online transaction via a web server, wherein said one or more online transaction requires the user'"'"'s account identifier;

providing the user with an interface to log in using the account identifier;

monitoring data associated with the account identifier, during each instance of use of the pay-as-you-go internet service;

comparing the monitored data to a threshold of use for the account identifier previously set by the user;

preventing the account identifier from exceeding the threshold of use;

providing the user with a virtually simultaneously notification of total charges associated with the account identifier when each of the one or more online transaction ends; and

presenting the user with an interactive system operable during each instance of use, to enable the user to make electronic payments for additional use of the pay-as-you-go internet service.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the threshold of use is associated with money.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises of an SMS message, an e-mail or other online notification.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic payments are selected from the group consisting of:

credit cards, debit cards, check cards, on-line banking accounts or other accounts that support electronic payments.

5. A system for providing pre-paid or pay-as-you-go internet services to a user, the system comprising:

a server, accessible via a telecommunication network, where in the server performs a method comprising;

assigning an account identifier for a pay-as-you-go internet service to a user for conducting one or more online transaction via a web server, wherein said one or more online transaction requires the user'"'"'s account identifier;

providing the user with an interface to log in using the account identifier;

monitoring data associated with the account identifier, during each instance of use of the pay-as-you-go internet service;

comparing the monitored data to a threshold of use for the account identifier previously set by the user;

preventing the account identifier from exceeding the threshold of use;

providing the user with a virtually simultaneously notification of total charges associated with the account identifier when each of the one or more online transaction ends; and

presenting the user with an interactive system operable during each instance of use, to enable the user to make electronic payments for additional use of the pay-as-you-go internet service.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the threshold of use is associated with money.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the notification comprises of an SMS message, an e-mail or other online notification.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic payments are selected from the group consisting of:

credit cards, debit cards, check cards, on-line banking accounts or other accounts that support electronic payments.