METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RE-VALUING PREPAID TELEPHONE ACCOUNTS

Abstract: Intermediate vendor system (10) and method for re-valuing a prepaid telephone account with a predetermined amount, the intermediate vendor system (10) comprising: first interface means (17) for communicating with a telephone user (11); first database means (16; 22) for storing user information, the user information comprising at least a first code and an associated telephone number; processing means (15), connected to the first interface means (17) and first database means (16; 22). The processing means (15) are arranged for receiving an authentication code from a telephone user (11) by an intermediate vendor; receiving a telephone number associated with the telephone user (11) by the intermediate vendor (10); checking the authentication code with the telephone number in an intermediate database (22); and, if the authentication code matches with the telephone number, sending a re-value message to the telephone user (11) and the telephone service provider (12) by the intermediate vendor (10).

Description: Method and system for re- valuing prepaid telephone accounts The present invention relates to a method and a system for re- valuing a prepaid telephone account, such as used in mobile telephony, with a predetermined amount, the prepaid telephone account being administered by a telephone service provider. International patent application WO01/09853 describes a system and method for prepaid account replenishment. For this, use is made of existing credit card transaction systems and methods. In the method, an intermediate vendor forwards a request to a banking provider, which, after checking for sufficient balance, then informs a replenishment system of a telephone service provider that a specified account should be replenished using a prepaid engine. International patent application WO98/21874 describes a prepaid telephony service system, only describing method steps performed by and systems operated by the telephone service provider. At present, a user of a mobile prepaid telephone can re- value his telephone account by calling a predetermined number to contact the telephone service provider, usually by means of a computer server. First, the user will have to buy a calling card with a given value at a store (general store or a store dedicated to selling prepaid telephone cards). By inputting a code identified on the card previously purchased (usually by scratching off a debradable layer over a printed code and inputting the code on the telephone keypad), the telephone account of the user is re-valued with the given value. Usually, a user of a mobile telephone does not always buy calling cards in advance. Also, it may happen that in a certain period, a mobile telephone user utilises the mobile telephone more than planned, resulting a much quicker consumption of the prepaid account. At the moment that the prepaid account is very low or zero, the user can no longer make any telephone calls (except emergency calls). As the case may be, the user may also not be able to buy a new calling card at that time or at the user's present position. The present invention seeks to provide a method and a system for enabling a mobile telephone user to augment his prepaid account anywhere and anytime he/she wants. The present invention provides a method as defined above, comprising the steps of receiving an authentication code from a telephone user by an intermediate vendor, receiving a telephone number associated with the telephone user by the intermediate vendor (e.g. by using calling line identification CLI or direct input from the user), checking the authentication code with the telephone number in an intermediate database by the intermediate vendor, the intermediate database comprising telephone numbers and associated authentication codes; and, if the authentication code matches with the telephone number, sending a re-value message to the telephone user and the telephone service provider by the intermediate vendor. Preferably, the method comprises the further step of receiving the predetermined amount from the telephone user. The telephone user may benefit from the present method by being able to revalue or augment his prepaid telephone account whenever he wants, without the need to buy separate calling cards at a local store and calling his mobile telephony service provider. An intermediate vendor of prepaid account credits does not have to keep a large number of calling cards in stock, only a (computer) file or database with registered customers (combinations of telephone number and first codes) and account credit information (a plurality of valid re- value codes or any other representation of a period of time, such as a time slice or time package). Using the present method, the telephone service providers have the benefit that large amounts of prepaid telephone credits may be bought by the intermediate service provider, shifting the risk of distributing the prepaid telephone credits to the intermediate service provider. In a further embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of sending a payment request to a banking provider, the payment request comprising an identification of the user associated with the prepaid telephone account and the predetermined amount, and waiting for a payment acknowledgement of the banking provider. This allows a very quick and efficient re- valuation of the prepaid account balance. Known payment methods used by banking providers or clearing houses are very quick and allow this part of the re- valuation method to be executed in a very short time span. Between the step of sending the payment request and receiving the acknowledgement, the prepaid telephone account is temporarily blocked in a further embodiment. This blocks a user from a prepaid telephone account from attempting to re- value his account when the re- valuation process is still ongoing, which minimises the risk of ongoing re-value attempts.The re-value message may be in the form of a voice message or in the form of a data message, such as an SMS message. When the user is utilising a mobile telephone, the option with data messages (more preferably SMS message) is preferred, as this option enables the user to simply save the information in the user's mobile telephone. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the re- value message comprises a second code, the second code being one of a plurality of valid re-value codes. The valid re- value code may be a regular re- value code, but also any other representation of an amount of credit, such as a period of time, a time slice or a time package. This enables that the intermediate vendor only has to maintain a list of valid re-value codes (e.g. in a computer database or file) instead of a large stock of cards, which may e.g. be stolen or damaged. For the telephone user it is simple to augment his prepaid telephone account using the second code. In a further embodiment of the present method, the method comprises the further steps of sending a re- value request to a telephone service provider after checking that the first code matches with the telephone number, the request comprising the predetermined amount, the telephone number and a second code, the second code being equal to one of a plurality of valid re-value codes, the re- value message being sent after receiving an acknowledgement from the telephone service provider that the prepaid telephone account has been re-valued, the re-value message comprising an acknowledgement. In this embodiment, the user only has to contact the intermediate service provider and provide a first code (such a PIN code) to re-value the prepaid account. The intermediate service provider forwards a codesecond code (which may be a regular re- alue code, but also any other representation of an amount of credit, such as a period of time, a time slice or a time package) to the telephone service provider, without the telephone user being aware of it. In a still further embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of, between receiving the first code from the telephone user and sending the re-value message to the telephone user, sending a pre-recorded message to the telephone user. By using advertising, the intermediate service provider may lower the cost of the prepaid telephony accounts for the user or may introduce a customer fidelity program (bonus points or something like that), as the advertising generates income to the intermediate service provider. The re- value message may also comprise as second code the telephone number associated with the prepaid telephone account and an amount for re- aluing. This embodiment is very efficient when the method uses direct payment processing, as this obviates the need of using a list of valid re- value codes. A second aspect of the present invention relates to an intermediate vendor system for re- valuing a prepaid telephone account with a predetermined amount, the intermediate vendor system comprising first interface means for communicating with a telephone user, first database means for storing user information, the user information comprising at least a first code and an associated telephone number, processing means connected to the first interface means and first database means, the processing means being arranged for receiving an authentication code from a telephone user by an intermediate vendor, receiving a telephone number associated with the telephone user by the intermediate vendor, checking the authentication code with the telephone number in an intermediate database by the intermediate vendor, the intermediate database comprising telephone numbers and associated authentication codes, and, if the authentication code matches with the telephone number, sending a re- value message to the telephone user and the telephone service provider by the intermediate vendor. An intermediate service provider may utilise such a system for providing a revalue possibility of prepaid accounts of telephone users. The telephone user may revalue a prepaid account whenever he wants, without the need to buy separate calling cards at a local store and calling his mobile telephony service provider. An intermediate service provider or vendor of prepaid account credits does not have to keep a large number of calling cards in stock, only a (computer) file or database with registered customers (combinations of telephone number and first codes) In an embodiment, the processing means are further arranged for executing the steps of sending a payment request to a banking provider, the payment request comprising an identification of the user associated with the prepaid telephone account and the predetermined amount; and waiting for a payment acknowledgement of the banking provider. The processing means may be further arranged to temporarily block the prepaid telephone account in between the step of sending the payment request and receiving the acknowledgement. Known payment settlement methods used by banking providers and clearing houses then allow to provide a very quick and efficient re- value system. Preferably, the processing means are further arranged for receiving the predetermined amount from the telephone user. This provides the system with flexibility with regard to the amount of re-valuation the user wants. More preferably, the first interface means comprise an interactive voice response system for receiving input from the telephone user and sending voice messages to the telephone user. Interactive voice response systems are well known in the art, and provide the functionality and flexibility to the system allowing use from anywhere and anytime. In a first embodiment of the present system, the processing means are further arranged for sending a re-value message, the re- value message comprising a second code being one of a plurality of valid re-value codes. The valid re- value code may be a regular re- value code, but also any other representation of an amount of credit, such as a period of time, a time slice or a time package. After receiving the valid re- alue code, the telephone user may re-value the prepaid account in the usual way, e.g. by calling a dedicated telephone number of the telephone service provider. In a further embodiment of the present system, the system further comprises second interface means connected to the processing means for communicating with a telephone service provider system, the processing means being further arranged for sending a re- value request to the telephone service provider system after checking that the first code matches with the telephone number, the request comprising the telephone number and a second code, the second code being equal to one of a plurality of valid re-value codes, and the re-value message comprising an acknowledgement, the re-value message being sent after receiving an acknowledgement from the telephone service provider that the prepaid telephone account has been re-valued. This embodiment allows a user to automatically re-value the prepaid account, without the need to perform any further actions. Preferably, the second interface means are arranged to communicate with an interactive voice response system of the telephone service provider system. Using this arrangement, the present system may interface with existing re- value systems of telephone service providers. Also, the present system may further comprise third database means for storing settings for the second interface for communication with telephone service provider system. Depending on which telephone service provider is associated with a specific telephone number, the settings for communication with the telephone service provider may be adapted. In a still further embodiment, the re-value message comprises a second code, the second code comprising a telephone number associated with the prepaid telephone account and an amount for re-valuing. This re-value message can then be sent directly to the provider billing system for updating the prepaid account balance, which is particularly advantageous when the re- value system receives a direct confirmation of the payment from the banking provider. A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product, comprising computer executable code, which when run on a computer provides the steps of the method according to the present invention. This computer program product may be loaded in a computer server of an intermediate service provider for implementing the method according to the present invention. The present invention will now be explained in more detail by discussion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the system according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a data flow diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the present invention; and Fig. 3 shows a data flow diagram of a further embodiment of the present method. The present invention is illustrated by means of a number of exemplary embodiments, directed at re-valuing prepaid accounts for mobile telephony. However, it will be clear that the present invention can also be applied to other fields, such as normal telephony, or prepaid provision of other utilities, such as television, electricity, etc. Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the re- value system 10 according to the present invention. The re- value system 10 is operated by an intermediate service provider, which provides for a re- valuing service for registered customers, anytime they want and from any place. The re- value system 10 comprises a processor 15 (or other means for processing data) which is connected to memory means 16, such as a disk drive or solid state memory (static RAM, dynamic RAM, etc.). Furthermore, the processor 15 is connected to a first interface 17, the first interface 17 being arranged to communicate with a telephone 11 of a user, such as a mobile GSM telephone. Also, the processor 15 is connected to a second interface 18, for communicating with a telephone service provider computer 12 or a banking provider computer 9. Optionally, the processor 15 may be connected to a message storage system 19, such as a tape recorder or a hard disk recorder, on which voice messages, such as commercials, are stored. Preferably, the first interface 17 is arranged as an interactive voice response system. A user of a mobile telephone 11 can easily connect with the interactive voice response system 17, e.g. by calling a predetermined telephone number (which may be a no charge 0800 number). The user may identify himself by inputting his telephone number, or the interactive voice response system 17 may obtain the telephone number by using calling line identification, a function usually provided in mobile or other public switched telephone networks. Fig. 2 shows a data flow diagram of the method according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows the mobile telephone user, indicated by reference numeral 11, who interfaces with a re-value process 20. The re-value process 20 interfaces with an accounting process of the telephone service provider 21. Also, the re- value process 20 interfaces with a number of stores, i.e. a customer database 22, a database 23 with a plurality of valid codes for re- aluing prepaid accounts, and a message database 24 comprising recorded voice messages. Preferably, the customer database 22 and the database 23 with valid codes are stored in the memory means 16, and the message database 24 is preferably stored on the message storage system 19. The re- value process 20 is running on the processor 15, and the first and second interface 17, 18. The customer database 22 may comprise details about each customer (identified by an associated (mobile) telephone number) for billing purposes, such as name, address, city, associated mobile telephone number, bank account number/payment method, status, language, verification codes, etc. The customer database 22 may be updated using a tool or software scripts. The customer database 22 may be a database inherited from a telephone service provider, augmented with data specific for the present revalue system 10. After receiving the telephone number of the mobile telephone 11 by the re-value process 20, the user 11 is prompted by the interactive voice response system 17 to input a first code, which is a verification code for establishing that he is a registered customer of the intermediate service provider. The re-value process 20 checks the telephone number received and the first code received from the user 11 in the customer database 22. Optionally, the user 11 can input a desired amount to re- value his prepaid account, but preferably, the amount of re- valuation is a fixed predetermined amount. After checking the first code and the telephone number, the re-value process starts with the actual re- valuation of the prepaid account. In a first embodiment, the re- value process 20 looks up a second code, which is a valid re- valuation code, in the database 23. After that, the re- value process 20 communicates the second code and the telephone number to the account process 21 associated with a particular telephone service provider. This account process 21 may be run in the re- valuation system 10 itself, or in a separate system, such as the service provider system 12 (pre-paid account billing system). The account process 21 then sends a message to the mobile telephone user 11, either as a voice message or as a data message, such as an SMS message. After receiving the second code, the mobile telephone user 11 can re-value his prepaid account in the usual way at his telephone service provider using the second code. In an alternative embodiment, the re-value process 20 sends a re- value request to the account process 21 which is executed at the telephone service provider system 12. The re- value request comprises the telephone number of the mobile telephone user 11 and the second code. The re- value request may also comprise the desired amount of revaluation, if known. The account process 21 receives the request, and after checking the telephone number and the second code, updates the prepaid account associated with the specific telephone number. Then, the account process 21 sends an acknowledgement to the re-value process 20. After receiving the acknowledgement from the account process 21, the re-value process 20 notifies the mobile telephone user 11 that the prepaid account has been re-valued, either by a voice message (using the interactive voice response system) or by a data message. When a prepaid account of a customer has been re- valued by the re- value process 20, billing details are obtained from the customer database 22 in order to recoup the costs of the re- valuation (e.g. by charging a (credit card) account). In all the above described embodiments, in the time between the start of the revaluation (i.e. after receiving all inputs from the mobile telephone user 11) and the end of the re-valuation, the re- value process 20 may down load a (commercial) message from the message database 24, and send that message to the mobile telephone user 11. This may be implemented using the processor 15, message storage system 19 and first interface 17 of the re- value system 10. This dissemination of commercial messages opens the possibility for the intermediate service provider to either lower the price of re-valuing the prepaid accounts, or to introduce a customer fidelity bonus system with which a customer can collect bonus points. An even further embodiment of the present re- value system 10 is shown in more detailed form with reference to Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the first interface 17 is embodied as an Interactive Voice Response system IVR, which interfaces with the mobile telephone 11 and the re- value process 20. The IVR 17 also interfaces with a database 24a comprising spoken commercials, allowing to use the periods of the re- value process in which no communication takes place with the mobile telephone 11 for playing commercial messages. Also, the IVR 17 interfaces with an INR message database 24b, comprising standard messages for voice interaction with the user of the mobile telephone 11. The re- value process 20 interfaces only with the customer database 22 in this embodiment. The re- value process 20 communicates with a number of further processes. A first further process is the Log process 25, allowing to log whatever data is requested. This data would at least include data concerning all transactions (successful or not) of the re- value system 10 (including re- alue process 20), preferably in a predefined format. A further process is the OAM process 26 (Operation Administration and Maintenance). This sub-process 26 allows to operate, administer and maintain the re- value system 10. This sub-process might include monitoring the complete re- value system and associated process steps and generating alarms in case of malfunction and/or setting the operational parameters of the re- value system 10 (such as limits on re-value attempts). The alarm generation may be fully automatic and may e.g. generate SΝMP-messages to the network operational center. The embodiment of Fig. 3 also comprises the sub-process 21 (telephone service provider account process) which keeps track of the actual balance of the prepaid accounts of users and which may be used for re- valuing the mobile telephone user accounts of a certain provider. Finally, this embodiment comprises a payment sub-process 27. This payment process 27 interfaces with a banking provider or clearing house 9 (see Fig. 1). This sub- process 27 is responsible for the debit transactions of the present re- value system. It generates incasso files or messages and sends these to a banking provider computer or clearing house 12. As in the embodiments described earlier, the user of a mobile telephone 11 contacts the IVR 17 for re- valuing his prepaid account. After verification of the verification code by the re-value process 20 using the customer database 22, the revalue process 20 may control the IVR 17 to play a choice menu of charging possibilities of prepaid amounts to the mobile telephone 11. Selections may e.g be made by the user of the mobile telephone using DTMF coded keys. Selection of a choice will be forwarded by the IVR 17 to the re- value process 20. The re- value process 20 may check the customer database 22 to verify that the particular user is authorised to use the re- value system 10. If the user is (temporarily) blocked from using the re- value system 10, for whatever reason, the transaction will be stopped. When the user is allowed to use the re- value system 10, the re-value process will control the incasso or payment process 27 to generate an incasso request or debit file. The incasso request may comprise the user's identity, telephone number, bank account number (retrieved from the customer database) and amount. The payment process 27 sends the incasso request to a banking provider or clearing house computer 9. Preferably, the prepaid telephone account will be blocked from further re-valuing attempts until the payment is confirmed to minimise the possibility of misuse by the user. When the payment has succeeded, the payment process 27 will receive an acknowledgement from the banking provider computer 9. The possible (temporary) blocking of the telephone account will be removed, and the successful transaction will be logged by the Log process 25 (e.g. by moving the debit file to another directory). When the payment has not succeeded, the incasso request may be resent for a number of further attempts. Preferably, the number of attempts is limited, and after reaching the maximum number of attempts, the debit file may be moved to a special directory for failed incasso requests. After receiving the acknowledgement of a successful payment, the re- value process will control the telephone service provider account process 21 to send a message for updating the account balance of the specified user. This may be achieved in analogy with the earlier described embodiments. In the case when the update action at the service provider computer 12 fails, for whatever reason, the re- value process will inform the user via the IVR system 17 and will also control the payment process 27 to cancel the earlier payment. In a preferred embodiment, the re- value system 10 can operate with a number of different telephone service provider systems 12, representing different providers. To accomplish this, the memory means 16 of the re- value system 10 comprise information concerning the required settings of the second interface 18 for proper communication with each of the possible telephone service provider systems 12. The required settings may comprise a telephone number of the telephone service provider system 12, and specific information concerning the format of data communication with the telephone service provider system 12 (which may e.g. also be an interactive voice response system). In operation, the re-value process 20 may deduce from the received telephone signal or received telephone number which telephone service provider system 12 it should interface with.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for re- valuing a prepaid telephone account with a predetermined amount, the prepaid telephone account being administered by a telephone service provider, comprising the steps of: receiving an authentication code from a telephone user (11) by an intermediate vendor (10); receiving a telephone number associated with the telephone user(l 1) by the intermediate vendor (10); checking the authentication code with the telephone number in an intermediate database (22) by the intermediate vendor (10), the intermediate database (22) comprising telephone numbers and associated authentication codes; and, if the authentication code matches with the telephone number, sending a re-value message to the telephone user (11) and the telephone service provider (12) by the intermediate vendor (10). 2. Method according to claim 1, in which the method comprises the further steps of sending a payment request to a banking provider (9) by the intermediate vendor (10), the payment request comprising an identification of the user associated with the prepaid telephone account and the predetermined amount; and waiting for a payment acknowledgement of the banking provider (9). 3. Method according to claim 2, in which in between the step of sending the payment request and receiving the acknowledgement, the prepaid telephone account is temporarily blocked. 4. Method according to one of the proceeding claims, in which the method comprises the further step of receiving the predetermined amount from the telephone user (11). 5. Method according to one of the proceeding claims, in which the re- value message is a voice message. 6. Method according to one of the claims 1 through 4, in which the re-value message is a data message, such as an SMS message. 7. Method according to one of the claims 1 through 6, in which the re-value message comprises a second code, the second code being one of a plurality of valid revalue codes. 8. Method according to one of the claims 1 through 6, in which the method comprises the further steps of: sending a re- value request to a telephone service provider (12) after checking that the first code matches with the telephone number, the request comprising the predetermined amount, the telephone number and a second code, the second code being equal to one of a plurality of valid re-value codes; the re-value message being sent after receiving an acknowledgement from the telephone service provider (12) that the prepaid telephone account has been re-valued, the re-value message comprising an acknowledgement. 9. Method according to one of the claims 1 through 6, in which the re- value message comprises a second code, the second code comprising a telephone number associated with the prepaid telephone account and an amount for re-valuing. 10. Method according to one of the proceeding claims, in which the method comprises the further steps of: between receiving the first code from the telephone user (11) and sending the re-value message to the telephone user (11), sending a pre-recorded message to the telephone user (11). 11. Intermediate vendor system (10) for re- valuing a prepaid telephone account with a predetermined amount, the intermediate vendor system (10) comprising: first interface means (17) for communicating with a telephone user (11); first database means (16; 22) for storing user information, the user information comprising at least a first code and an associated telephone number; processing means (15), connected to the first interface means (17) and first database means (16; 22), the processing means (15) being arranged for receiving an authentication code from a telephone user (11) by an intermediate vendor; receiving a telephone number associated with the telephone user(l 1) by the intermediate vendor (10); checking the authentication code with the telephone number in an intermediate database (22) by the intermediate vendor (10), the intermediate database (22) comprising telephone numbers and associated authentication codes; and, if the authentication code matches with the telephone number, sending a re- value message to the telephone user (11) and the telephone service provider (12) by the intermediate vendor (10). 12. System according to claim 11. in which the processing means (15) are further arranged for executing the steps of sending a payment request to a banking provider (9), the payment request comprising an identification of the user associated with the prepaid telephone account and the predetermined amount; and waiting for a payment acknowledgement of the banking provider (9). 13. System according to claim 12, in which the processing means (15) are further arranged to temporarily block the prepaid telephone account in between the step of sending the payment request and receiving the acknowledgement. 14. System according to one of the claims 11 through 13, in which the processing means (15) are further arranged for receiving the predetermined amount from the telephone user ( 11 ) . 15. System according to one of the claims 11 through 14, in which the first interface means (17) comprise an interactive voice response system for receiving input from the telephone user (11) and sending voice messages to the telephone user (11). 16. System according to one of the claims 11 through 15, in which the processing means (15) are further arranged for sending a re- value message, the re- value message comprising a second code being one of a plurality of valid re- value codes. 17. System according to one of the claims 11 through 15, in which the system (10) further comprises second interface means (18) connected to the processing means (15) for communicating with a telephone service provider system (12), the processing means (15) being further arranged for sending a re- value request to the telephone service provider system (12) after checking that the first code matches with the telephone number, the request comprising the telephone number and a second code, the second code being equal to one of a plurality of valid re- value codes; and the re- value message comprising an acknowledgement, the re-value message being sent after receiving an acknowledgement from the telephone service provider system (12) that the prepaid telephone account has been re- valued. 18. System according to claim 17, in which the second interface means (18) are arranged to communicate with an interactive voice response system of the telephone service provider system (12). 19. System according to claim 17 or 18, in which the system (10) further comprises third database means (16) for storing settings of the second interface (18) for communication with telephone service provider system (12). 20. System according to one of the claims 11 through 15, in which the re-value message comprises a second code, the second code comprising a telephone number associated with the prepaid telephone account and an amount for re- valuing. 21. Computer program product, comprising computer executable code, which when run on a computer provides the steps of the method according to one of the claims 1 through 10.

Inventors: BLEEKER EDWIN, BLEEKER, EDWIN
Applicants: BLEEKER EDWIN, MAIKONA CORP N V, BLEEKER, EDWIN, MAIKONA CORPORATION N.V.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04M17
IPC codes: H04M17, H04W88