Patent ID: 10681223

Abstract:
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a charging system for charging an airtime use account file associated with a user for the provision of mobile telecommunications services to the user. The charging system comprises: one or more data stores configured to store: the airtime use account file, the airtime use account file having an airtime account balance which is debited in correspondence with use of airtime services by the user and has an associated predefined balance threshold; and a dedicated account file associated with the user and configured to store loan funds provided to the user, the dedicated account file having a dedicated account balance which is debited in correspondence with use of payment services or airtime services by the user. The charging system further comprises a rules engine processor programmed with instructions which when executed cause the rules engine processor to increase the dedicated account balance in the dedicated account file by an amount corresponding to a requested loan amount, and decrease the airtime account balance of the airtime use account file by at least the requested loan amount. The rules engine processor is configured to debit the dedicated account balance with use of airtime services when the airtime account balance is at or below the threshold amount.