Patent ID: 6424706
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G06Q,H04M

Abstract:
A method for transferring the value associated with a pre-purchased amount of telecommunication time for redemption and uses other than making telephone calls, comprising the steps of:providing a computer system including a prepaid platform adapter for interfacing with a prepaid platform and a financial network adapter for interfacing with a financial network; providing unit minutes having a value associated with a purchased amount of telecommunication-time and convertible to telecommunication-time equivalents for uses other than making telephone calls; providing a database including account information associated with a subscriber and transaction processing protocol information associated with each of said prepaid platform adapter and said financial network adapter in communication with said computer system, said account information including a unique identification and an accumulated value of said unit minutes; providing a remote input server in communication with said computer system; providing a subscriber input device controlled by said subscriber to access said remote input server; accessing said computer system by said subscriber input device; inputting information associated with a destination account for transfer of said unit minutes; designating an amount of said unit minutes to be transferred to said destination account; prompting said subscriber to re-designate said amount of said unit minutes to be transferred if said designated amount of unit minutes is one of less than a pre-selected minimum transfer amount and greater than a pre-selected maximum transfer amount; determining if transfer of said unit minutes to said destination account crosses a currency boundary; if transfer of said unit minutes to said destination account crosses a currency boundary, calculating a first value of said unit minutes to be transferred in a first currency associated with said subscriber, calculating an equivalent second value of said first value in a second currency associated with said destination account, calculating said unit minutes associated with said second equivalent value, and debiting said unit minutes associated with said equivalent value from an account of said subscriber and crediting said equivalent value associated with said subscriber's account to said destination account; and if transfer of said unit minutes to said destination account does not cross a currency boundary, debiting said unit minutes from said subscriber's account and crediting said unit minutes to said destination account.