Recharging prepaid accounts within a telecommunications network
AssigneeT-Mobile USA, Inc.
InventorKarthik Chandrasekaran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are described herein for recharging prepaid accounts within a telecommunications provider, such as a network carrier, using information provided by postpaid account subscribers. For example, the systems and methods facilitate the receipt of instructions from mobile devices associated with postpaid accounts. Upon receipt of the messages, the systems and methods (such as systems within a charging system of the network carrier or provider) identify intended or recipient mobile devices associated with prepaid accounts. Once identified, the systems and methods recharge the prepaid accounts, based on the instructions received from the postpaid account mobile devices.
Claims20
A charging system of a network carrier that provides telecommunications services to mobile devices over a telecommunications network, the charging system comprising:
- a message reception component that receives input from users associated with postpaid accounts provided by the network carrier;
- and
- a cross-account component that recharges or credits mobile devices associated with prepaid accounts provided by the network carrier based on receiving the input from the users associated with the postpaid accounts provided by the network carrier.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, at a charging system of a network carrier that provides telecommunications services to mobile devices over a telecommunications network, input from users associated with postpaid accounts provided by the network carrier;
- and
- recharging or crediting, by the charging system, mobile devices associated with prepaid accounts provided by the network carrier based on receiving the input from the users associated with the postpaid accounts provided by the network carrier.
At least one computer-readable storage medium, excluding transitory signals and carrying instructions, which, when executed by at least one data processor of a charging system associated with a network carrier that provides telecommunications services to mobile devices over a telecommunications network, cause the system to:
- receive input from users associated with postpaid accounts provided by the network carrier;
- and
- recharge or credit mobile devices associated with prepaid accounts provided by the network carrier based on receiving the input from the users associated with the postpaid accounts provided by the network carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.