Replenishment of prepaid accounts during multimedia sessions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multimedia communications system that provides for adding value to prepaid accounts comprising:
- a first processor that monitors a prepaid account associated with a user terminal to determine whether a balance for the prepaid account is below a predetermined threshold during a first communications session that uses the prepaid account;
a second processor that notifies a user terminal of a status of the balance if the balance is below the predetermined threshold; and
a third processor that initiates an interactive session with the user terminal to add value to the balance for the prepaid account while communications are maintained on the first communications session, where the interactive session is independent of the first communications session.
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Abstract
Prepaid accounts are replenished during multimedia sessions using the prepaid accounts without interruption of the multimedia sessions. A prepay server monitors and adjusts prepaid account balances based on usage of communications resources as reported by elements of the communications network (100). If a processor determines that an account balance is low, then a user terminal (102) is notified and a new session is intiated to permit the user to increase the account balance without interrupting the ongoing communications session.
82 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A multimedia communications system that provides for adding value to prepaid accounts comprising:
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a first processor that monitors a prepaid account associated with a user terminal to determine whether a balance for the prepaid account is below a predetermined threshold during a first communications session that uses the prepaid account; a second processor that notifies a user terminal of a status of the balance if the balance is below the predetermined threshold; and a third processor that initiates an interactive session with the user terminal to add value to the balance for the prepaid account while communications are maintained on the first communications session, where the interactive session is independent of the first communications session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for replenishing a prepaid account during a communications session, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a balance for a prepaid account is below a predetermined threshold during a first communications session that uses the prepaid account; if the balance is below the predetermined threshold, notifying a user of a status of the balance; and the initiating an interactive session with the user to add value to balance for the prepaid account while maintaining communications on the first communications session, where the interactive session is independent of the first communications session. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification