A SYSTEM FOR RECHARGING A PREPAID VALUE IN RESPECT OF A TELEPHONE CONNECTION

Abstract: A system for recharging a prepaid value in respect of a telephone connection with various communication service providers via a communication network comprises a number of terminals for recharging a prepaid value, a central processing unit and a number of service units. The terminals are capable of setting up a connection with the central processing unit via the communication network. Each terminal is capable of delivering to the central processing unit a payment message including a recharge of the prepaid value, a telephone number in respect of which the recharge is requested, and possibly a service provider code. The central processing unit selects the service unit of the associated communication service provider on the basis of the telephone number included in the payment message or the service provider code, and informs the selected service unit of the recharge of the prepaid value.

Description: A system for recharging a prepaid value in respect of a telephone connection The invention relates to a system for recharging a prepaid value in respect of a telephone connection with various communication service providers via a communication network, comprising a number of terminals for recharging a pre- paid value, a central processing unit and a number of service units, wherein the terminals are capable of setting up a connection with the central processing unit via the communication network. EP-A-0 590 861 discloses a system wherein a consumer can obtain and pay for services via a telephone . First a connection is set up via a telephone network with a central processing unit comprising a database, wherein the consumer's credit card number and possibly an identification code are verified, after which the central processing unit passes on an authorisation code to a vendor and a direct connection is set up between the consumer and the vendor via the telephone network. Systems of this kind are furthermore disclosed in EP- A-0 618 539 and WO 94/11849. With the system known from the latter publication, GSM telephones are used as terminals, with the code stored in the SIM card being used for consumer identification. NL-C- 1 004 235 finally discloses a system of this kind wherein various kinds of service units are connected to the central processing unit, as a result of which varying services can be offered to the consumer via a terminal. Although these prior art systems make it possible to obtain and pay for services via a communication network, such as the public telephone network, all prior art systems have this drawback that the transaction time, that is, the time required for making the payment and obtaining the service, is comparatively long, and the consumer is required to carry out many operations. Moreover, the prior art systems are rela- tively complicated. . It is a well-known fact that it is possible to recharge so-called pre-paid values with various providers of mobile telephone networks by buying a telephone card at a shop, on which card a concealed code number is present, which can be uncovered after the purchase of the telephone card. This code number must be input on the consumer's own mobile telephone after dialling a special number. Via said special number a connection is set up with the provider of the telephone net- work, and after receipt of the message containing the code number the prepaid value is recharged with the amount in question in a data file of the provider's computer. The distribution of such prepaid telephone cards in large numbers over several sales outlets is a time-consuming activity which in- volves a relatively great deal of expense. In addition, the presence of large stocks of such telephone cards makes the sales outlet a possible target for theft. The drawback of keeping a small stock of telephone cards is that this stock will be sold out more or less regularly, so that the service to the consumer will be less than satisfactory and both the vendor and the telephone company will lose income. The prepaid value may also be used for making other payments by means of a mobile phone. W09641462 and W09847112 disclose systems for recharg- ing a prepaid value of the kind referred to in the introduction, wherein a receipt is issued for the prepaid value. With these prior art systems the consumer makes a payment to the central processing unit via a terminal and the communication network, after which the central processing unit verifies the payment and instructs the terminal to print a receipt carrying a specific code number. By means of this code number the consumer can then recharge his prepaid value in the same manner as with the aforesaid telephone cards by dialling a specific number. W09877112 furthermore discloses a system wherein the central processing unit can communicate with a service unit of a communication service provider so as to retrieve information on a specific prepaid value. The recharging of a prepaid value requires a complex exchange of messages between the terminal , the central processing unit and the service unit . The prior art systems are complicated and the consumer is required to carry out many operations. In addition, the prepaid value can only be recharged with predetermined amounts. Consequently, there is a great need for a simple system of the kind referred to in the introduction, which is suitable for recharging a balance of a prepaid value with any desired amount . The object of the invention is to provide a system of the above kind that supplies this need. In order to accomplish that objective, the system according to the invention is characterized in that each terminal is capable of delivering to the central processing unit a payment message including a recharge of the prepaid value, a telephone number in respect of which the recharge is requested, and possibly a service provider code, wherein the central processing unit selects the service unit of the associated communication service provider on the basis of the telephone number included in the payment message or the serv- ice provider code, and informs the selected service unit of the recharge of the prepaid value . In this manner a system is obtained by means of which the consumer can recharge a prepaid value with any desired amount in a simple and secure manner, whilst there is no need for sales outlets to keep stocks having a great commercial value . In principle the consumer can recharge his prepaid value twenty-four hours a day. Furthermore the system has the advantage that when the consumer changes telephone companies, this will not lead to a change in the manner of payment by the consumer, so that such a change can take place in a way which is easy and secure for the consumer. The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, which is a very schematic view of an embodiment of the system according to the invention. The illustrated system is in particular arranged for recharging a prepaid value in respect of a telephone connection with various communication service providers, in particular for recharging a prepaid value of a mobile telephone con- nection. To this end the system comprises a plurality of terminals, four possible embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4 of which are shown in the drawing. Terminals 1 - 4, which will be present in great numbers in a practical embodiment of the system, are capable of setting up a connection with a computer system or central processing unit 6 via a communication network 5. The central processing unit 6 is capable of setting up a connection, via communication network 5, with the computer system or service units 7 of various providers of mobile telephone net- works. For the sake of clarity only one service UNIT 7 is shown in the drawing. It is noted that the communication network 5 may comprise several landline telephone networks, cellular telephone networks, computer networks and landline and/or cellular connections. It is possible to use a fast land-line connection, for example, in particular between central processing unit 6 and service units 7, for handling the data communication traffic in a quick and secure manner. The drawing finally shows a verification unit 8 of a recognized agency for carrying out electronic payments. In the Netherlands this could be Interpay. For certain payments, which are effected via the communication network within the framework of the system according to the invention, a connection can be set up with verification unit 8, as will be explained in more detail yet . Terminal 1 is arranged for use in a shop or other sales outlet, wherein the salesperson carries out at least part of the operations for recharging the prepaid value. Terminal 1 comprises a central processing unit (not shown) , a keypad 9 and preferably a display 10. When a consumer wishes to recharge the prepaid value of his mobile telephone, he pays the salesperson the amount by which he wishes to recharge his prepaid value. Via the keypad the salesperson inputs a PIN code, the amount and the telephone number in respect of which the prepaid value must be recharged. The processing unit of the terminal 2 verifies the PIN code. After verification the terminal converts this data into a payment message and sets up a connection with the central processing unit 6 via network 5. The payment message is preferably delivered to the central processing unit 6 after being encoded by means of a suitable cryptographic algorithm. Depending on the type of terminal 1, the payment message can be transmitted via a landline connection or in the form of a GMS (SMS) message. It is noted that the telephone number in respect of which the prepaid value is to be recharged can also be input by the consumer himself via keypad 9, if desired. Terminal 1 may comprise two units, at least one of which comprises a keypad. The first unit may be detachably connected to the second unit, which is in the form of a docking base, with display 10 forming part of the first unit . When the consumer has paid for recharging the prepaid value, the salesperson inputs his identification code and the amount via the keypad. The amount appears on display 10 and the salesperson hands over the unit to the consumer, who inputs the telephone number in respect of which the prepaid value is to be recharged. The payment message is composed and transmitted, for example by depressing a transmission button. In a preferred embodiment terminal 1 comprises as a third unit a transceiver including a GSM modem, which transceiver is capable of wireless communication with said docking base. For security reasons said third unit is disposed at a location which is not accessible to the public. The payment message is transmitted via said third unit and the GSM modem. Preferably, said payment message includes a terminal identification code. If terminal 1 comprises two or more units, this terminal identification code will preferably comprise a subcode for each unit. Central processing unit 6 can verify the source of a payment message by means of the terminal identifi- cation code, whereby the central processing unit can also verify the subcodes . This provides a safeguard against combining the first and the second unit with another GSM modem. After receipt of the payment message by the central processing unit 6, said message is processed once it has been decoded, whereby the central processing unit is capable of identifying, by means of the terminal identification code, the sales outlet at which terminal 1 is present. The central processing unit determines from the telephone number which service ω to t μ> in o o in o 171 ) Id to t H in O Lπ o uπ O LΠ < tn Ω SD 3" Φ en cr J rt P Hi P P rt μ- Ω Ω P P Ω • 8 TJ S tn r 3 3 rt SD rt 3 TJ en rt μ- SD 0 CQ SD en SD Φ tr Φ tn μ- ω 3 0 rt P ) SD 3 3 SD tr μ- TJ tr 0 Φ Hi P. Hi P Hi tr μ- Ω LQ 3 3 en μ- 0 P Ω P μ- C Q rt Hi μ- μ- 3 O tn 0 Φ Hi 3 O f. 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According to the system disclosed herein, the consumer can dial a spe- cial number for this purpose, which results in a connection with the central processing unit 6 being set up via network 5. Central processing unit 6 recognizes the telephone number and transmits a request to the terminal to state an account number from which the amount is to be transferred, as well as identi- fication data (pin code) and the amount with which the prepaid value is to be recharged. The communication from central processing unit 6 to terminal 3 can take place by means of SMS messages, for example. Terminal 3 converts the data into a payment message, which is transmitted to the central process- ing unit 6. Central processing unit 6 sets up a connection with verification unit 8 in order to have the payment verified, and after the authorization message has been received, the further processing of the payment message from terminal 3 takes place in the same manner as with terminal 1. In conclu- sion, a confirmation message is sent to terminal 3 again. Terminal 4 is a PC, by means of which a connection with a website can be set up via the Internet, at which website the consumer can subsequently ask for a recharge of the prepaid value in a manner that is usual with e-commerce. The further handling of the received payment message by central processing unit 6 takes place in the above-described manner. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention discloses a system for obtaining and paying for a prepaid value by means of which consumers who may have a tele- phone connection with various providers can recharge their prepaid value quickly and easily in any desired manner and in principle at any desired moment. Terminals 1 - 4 deliver a payment message to central processing unit 6, which payment message in any case includes the telephone number and the amount with which the prepaid value is to be recharged. Preferably, the payment message also includes a sender identification, so that the central processing unit can register via which terminal payment has taken place . The central processing unit 6 can identify by means of the telephone number the provider with which the consumer in question has a telephone connection, after which the central processing unit informs the service unit 7 of the provider in question via network 5 what telephone number is to be recharged with what amount. For the consumer, the central processing unit 6 is present in a way that is fully transparent to him and it seems as if he is directly obtaining a recharge of the prepaid value from his own provider of telephone services. The central processing unit 6 furthermore provides protection against unauthorized use by verifying the telephone number of the terminal from which the payment message is being received, by verifying the terminal identification code, by verifying whether the telephone number and the terminal identification code correspond and by record- ing session numbers. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the foregoing, which can be varied in several ways without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims: w u> to t μ» H LΠ o in o in O Lπ rt tr Φ Hi Φ 0 Hi - 5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the terminal delivers the payment message via a telephone connection, wherein the central processing unit verifies the telephone number of the terminal and only payment messages from a terminal having a telephone number that is known are processed, wherein preferably the central processing unit verifies the combination of telephone number and terminal identification code. 6. A system according to claims 4 and 5, wherein a unit comprises a transceiver with a modem, which is capable of wireless communication with the other unit (s) . 7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one terminal comprises a processing unit, an input unit for inputting an amount and a telephone number, a display, a money insertion unit and/or an electronic payment unit for payment with a smart card or the like, wherein the processing unit composes the payment message after receipt of a payment via the money insertion unit and/or the electronic payment unit . 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the electronic payment unit is capable of communication, via the communication network, with a verification unit for electronic payments for making a payment to the administrator of the central processing unit, wherein the electronic payment unit de- livers an authorization message that it has received from the verification unit to the processing unit, and the processing unit delivers the payment message to the central processing unit after receipt of the authorization message. 9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a mobile telephone can function as a terminal by dialling a predetermined service number of the central processing unit for the purpose of recharging the prepaid value, wherein the central processing unit requests the user via the telephone to input an account number, identification codes and an amount, and wherein the central processing unit has the verification unit verify the payment after receipt of said data, wherein the central processing unit selects the service unit of the associated communication service provider on the basis of the telephone number that makes the call after receipt of an authorization message from the verification unit, and transmits the recharge of the prepaid value to the selected service unit . 10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central processing unit, after having transmitted the telephone number and the recharge of the prepaid value to the selected service unit, sends a confirmation message to the terminal from which the payment message was re- ceived, wherein the central processing unit registers the received payments separately per service provider in a data file. 11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each terminal assigns a session sequence num- ber to each payment message, and wherein the central processing unit verifies and stores said session sequence number. 12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the terminals and the central processing unit encode the message with a suitable cryptographic algorithm prior to transmission.

Inventors: RISSEMA WILLEM, SNIJDER THEODORUS ARIE JAN, RISSEMA, WILLEM, SNIJDER, THEODORUS, ARIE, JAN
Applicants: A I M B V, RISSEMA WILLEM, SNIJDER THEODORUS ARIE JAN, A.I.M. B.V., RISSEMA, WILLEM, SNIJDER, THEODORUS, ARIE, JAN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G07F19
IPC codes: G06Q20, G07F7, H04M17