Prepaying usage time for another communication device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of prepaying for usage time for a communication device comprising:
- increasing an available balance of a prepaid account linked to a communication device of a first user by a designated amount responsive to a request from a second user;
allocating a portion of the available balance of the prepaid account that is attributable to the designated amount for communicating with a designated user; and
paying charges resulting from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid account;
wherein paying charges further comprises paying charges resulting from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid account if at least one additional condition associated with the designated user is met, wherein the additional condition specifies a timing constraint which indicates that the communications may only take place between defined hours.
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Abstract
A method of prepaying for usage time for a communication device can include increasing an available balance of a prepaid account linked to a communication device of a first user by a designated amount responsive to a request from a second user (910) and allocating a portion of the available balance of the prepaid account that is attributable to the designated amount for communicating with a designated user (915). The method further can include paying charges resulting from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid account (925).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of prepaying for usage time for a communication device comprising:
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increasing an available balance of a prepaid account linked to a communication device of a first user by a designated amount responsive to a request from a second user; allocating a portion of the available balance of the prepaid account that is attributable to the designated amount for communicating with a designated user; and paying charges resulting from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid account; wherein paying charges further comprises paying charges resulting from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid account if at least one additional condition associated with the designated user is met, wherein the additional condition specifies a timing constraint which indicates that the communications may only take place between defined hours. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of prepaying for usage time for a communication device comprising:
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increasing an available balance of a prepaid account linked to a communication device of a first user by a designated amount responsive to a request from a second user; allocating a portion of the available balance of the prepaid account that is attributable to the designated amount for communicating with a designated user; and paying charges resulting from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid account; and specifying the designated user as any user within a predetermined number of hops of a social network of the first user or the second user, wherein the designated user is within one hop of the first user or the second user when the designated user is listed in an address book of the first user or the second user, and the designated user is within two hops of the first user or the second user when the designated user is listed in an address book of a contact who is listed in the address book of the first user or the second user.
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9. A processing node within a communication network comprising:
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an account manager that allocates a portion of an available balance of a prepaid account linked with a communication device of a first user for communicating with a designated user; and a data store comprising account information for the prepaid account, wherein the account information specifies the portion of the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the designated user and a portion of the prepaid account that is allocated to communicating with a non-designated user; wherein the account manager decreases the portion of the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the designated user according to charges incurred from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user, wherein the account manager receives payments for charges resulting from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid account if at least one additional condition associated with the designated user is met, wherein the additional condition specifies a timing constraint which indicates that the communications may only take place between defined hours. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communication device comprising:
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a transceiver disposed within the communication device receiving an available balance of a prepaid account linked with a different communication device and a portion of the available balance that is allocated to communicating with a designated user; a display; and a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver and the display, wherein the controller causes the available balance and the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid account to be presented upon the display; wherein the portion of the available balance allocated to communicating with the designated user is associated with an additional condition, wherein the controller causes an indication of the additional condition to be presented upon the display, wherein the additional condition specifies a timing constraint which indicates that the communications may only take place between defined hours. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A processing node within a communication network comprising:
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an account manager that allocates a portion of an available balance of a prepaid account linked with a communication device of a first user for communicating with a designated user; and a data store comprising account information for the prepaid account, wherein the account information specifies the portion of the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the designated user and a portion of the prepaid account that is allocated to communicating with a non-designated user; wherein the account manager decreases the portion of the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the designated user according to charges incurred from communications between the communication device of the first user and the designated user, wherein the designated user as any user within a predetermined number of hops of a social network of the first user or the second user, wherein the designated user is within one hop of the first user or the second user when the designated user is listed in an address book of the first user or the second user, and the designated user is within two hops of the first user or the second user when the designated user is listed in an address book of a contact who is listed in the address book of the first user or the second user.
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Specification