Prepaid short messaging
First Claim
1. A method of tariffing a text message, comprising:
- providing a text message for tariff after transmission completion from a sending mobile device and before receipt by a recipient mobile device associated with said text message;
querying a physical account database to determine that a prepaid account corresponding to said recipient mobile device has prepaid for delivery of said text message;
permitting reduction of a prepaid parameter of said prepaid account prior to delivery of said text message;
if said prepaid account is determined to be sufficiently prepaid, routing said text message to said recipient mobile device; and
if said prepaid account is determined to be insufficiently prepaid, preventing delivery of said text message to said recipient mobile device, and once said prepaid account is sufficient permitting delivery of subsequent text messages associated with said prepaid account.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A prepaid messaging solution that uses open networking standards and supports pre-payment of enhanced Internet messaging services. The prepaid messaging solution accurately determines if a subscriber has sufficient account balance to deliver a complete short message, prior to message delivery. Message delivery is prevented if insufficient funds are in the subscriber'"'"'s account. A prepaid tariff engine, preferably extensible over a TCP/IP network, supports remote interaction with the SMSC and web chat servers to apply a real-time billing charge for each message. A service provider may create subscriber classes of service that define subscriber rates and/or tariffing plans used to apply real-time billing charges for sending/receiving messages. The prepaid short message tariff engine determines the appropriate message billing based upon, e.g., flat rate per message, character count, Time of Day, etc. The prepaid short messaging service preferably supports Internet web page access to subscriber'"'"'s short messaging account balances and account status.
409 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of tariffing a text message, comprising:
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providing a text message for tariff after transmission completion from a sending mobile device and before receipt by a recipient mobile device associated with said text message; querying a physical account database to determine that a prepaid account corresponding to said recipient mobile device has prepaid for delivery of said text message; permitting reduction of a prepaid parameter of said prepaid account prior to delivery of said text message; if said prepaid account is determined to be sufficiently prepaid, routing said text message to said recipient mobile device; and if said prepaid account is determined to be insufficiently prepaid, preventing delivery of said text message to said recipient mobile device, and once said prepaid account is sufficient permitting delivery of subsequent text messages associated with said prepaid account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification