System and method for providing prepaid billing for instant messaging users

A system for providing prepaid billing services as part of an instant messaging (IM) system, comprising:

• a server operable to receive an IM request from a client;
• and
• a prepaid account screener coupled to the server, wherein the prepaid account screener is operable to:
• determine whether a prepaid account balance associated with the client satisfies a pre-determined criteria;
• initiate a regular IM session if the prepaid account balance satisfies the pre-determined criteria;
• initiate a limited IM session if the prepaid account balance does not satisfy the pre-determined criteria;
• and
• an IM backend server coupled to the prepaid account screener and operable to provide an IM service;
• wherein the prepaid account screener is operable to connect to the IM backend server if the prepaid account balance satisfies the pre-determined criteria;
• and
• wherein the server is operable to:
• send a message to the client if the prepaid account balance does not satisfy the pre-determined criteria, the message being sent to the client without forwarding an IM client request to the IM backend server;
• and
• after the message is sent to the client, terminate the limited IM session.

A method of providing prepaid billing services as part of an instant messaging (IM) system, comprising:

• receiving an IM request from an IM client;
• determining whether a prepaid account balance associated with the IM client satisfies a pre-determined criteria;
• if the prepaid account balance does not satisfy the pre-determined criteria;
• establishing a limited IM session;
• sending a message to the IM client without forwarding the IM request to an external IM server, wherein the message is sent to the IM client using the IM system and wherein the message notifies a user of the IM client of a low or insufficient prepaid account balance;
• and
• after the message is sent to the IM client, terminating the limited IM session.