Method and system for refilling mobile telephone prepaid phone cards via electronic distribution of refill codes
First Claim
1. A method for effecting delivery of a refill code by a distributor of refill codes to an end user of prepaid telecommunications services associated with a provider of said services, comprising the steps of:
- displaying refill code types, each refill code associated with one of a plurality of providers to an end user at a station, said station being linked to a computer network and having a visual display;
receiving a refill code request from said end user;
obtaining a refill code corresponding to said refill code request;
reserving a refill code for said end user prior to securing payment from said end user;
delivering said refill code to said end user by at least one of electronic mail, facsimile, short message system, visual display at said station, physical display on a printed medium, voice mail, and,transmitting said refill code to said provider in association of said refill code with said end user'"'"'s telephone number for crediting said end user'"'"'s telephone number;
wherein said refill code information is displayed to said end user on a web site of a distributor and said web site of said distributor having one appearance of a plurality of appearances, said appearance is associated with a retailer and each of said plurality of appearance is associated with a different retailer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and system for refilling mobile terminal prepaid phone cards via electronic distribution of refill codes. Refill codes for prepaid phone cards are distributed to end users via a prepaid phone card distributor, which contracts with mobile phone operators and prepaid phone card retailers to distribute refill codes. End users enter identification and payment information to the refill code distributor, which then records the payment and returns a refill code to the end users. End users can purchase refill codes by mediums including a computer network and refill terminals located at retail shops.
99 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for effecting delivery of a refill code by a distributor of refill codes to an end user of prepaid telecommunications services associated with a provider of said services, comprising the steps of:
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displaying refill code types, each refill code associated with one of a plurality of providers to an end user at a station, said station being linked to a computer network and having a visual display; receiving a refill code request from said end user; obtaining a refill code corresponding to said refill code request; reserving a refill code for said end user prior to securing payment from said end user; delivering said refill code to said end user by at least one of electronic mail, facsimile, short message system, visual display at said station, physical display on a printed medium, voice mail, and, transmitting said refill code to said provider in association of said refill code with said end user'"'"'s telephone number for crediting said end user'"'"'s telephone number; wherein said refill code information is displayed to said end user on a web site of a distributor and said web site of said distributor having one appearance of a plurality of appearances, said appearance is associated with a retailer and each of said plurality of appearance is associated with a different retailer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for effecting delivery of a refill code by a distributor of refill codes to an end user of prepaid telecommunications services associated with a provider of said services, comprising the steps of
displaying refill code types, each refill code associated with one of a plurality of providers to an end user at a station, said station being linked to a computer network and having a visual display; -
receiving a refill code request from said end user obtaining a refill code corresponding to said refill code request; delivering said refill code to said end user by at least one of electronic mail, facsimile, short message system, visual display at said station, physical display on a printed mediums, voice mails, transmitting said refill code to said provider in association of said refill code with said end user'"'"'s telephone number for crediting said end user'"'"'s telephone number; and receiving from said end user delivery information indicating how said refill code is to be delivered to said end user; wherein said refill code information is displayed to said end user on a web site of a distributor and said web site of said distributor having one appearance of a plurality of appearances, said appearance is associated with a retailer and each of said plurality of appearance is associated with a different retailer.
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20. A system for effecting delivery of a refill code by a distributor of refill codes for resale to an end user of prepaid telecommunications services associated with a provider of said services, comprising:
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a refill code inventory containing available refill codes; an interface occupied by a set of refill code types, each refill code in inventory having been assigned a corresponding refill code type and having been associated with a provider; a processor receiving a refill code type request and obtaining an available refill code of said requested type from said inventory and upon delivery thereof designating said obtained refill code as an unavailable refill code; means for replenishing an end user'"'"'s prepaid telecommunications services account with said obtained refill code upon receiving at least one of verification of said end user and said end user'"'"'s telephone number; means for reserving a refill code for said end user prior to securing payment from said end user; and a database having a plurality of appearances and each of said plurality of appearance is associated with a different retailer and said appearance associated with said retailer is displayed to said end user when receiving said refill code. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification