Method and system for multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing
AssigneeRedknee Inc.
InventorsShailesh Lakhani, Jacky Chan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The advances disclosed herewith delimit an improved method and system for smoothly rating and billing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). Implemented as part of a computer program product, the solution seeking the protection of Letters Patent, represents a comprehensive real-time solution for rating incoming and outgoing MMS messages which, with a view towards simplicity and efficacy of purpose, enables wireless/mobile subscribers to maintain a single account for both voice and messaging (MMS) services.
Claims24
A method for real-time multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing comprising:
- receiving a request from a multimedia server in a multimedia messaging service rating and billing device via an interface protocol to rate an MMS message associated with a user account;
- determining a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules at the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device;
- communicating the determined rate from the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to an external billing system in order to charge the user account;
- receiving a second communication in the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device indicating a success or failure in charging the determined rate to the user account;
- and
- communicating a response from the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to the multimedia server via the interface protocol indicating, in dependence on the second communication received in the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device, the success or failure in charging the user account.
A system for real-time multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device comprising:
- a multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device connected to a multimedia server, said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device configured to interface with the multimedia server, said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device further configured to receive requests from the multimedia server to rate an MMS message associated with a user account;
- and
- an external billing system connected to said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device;
- wherein said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device is configured to determine a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules, the determined rate being received at said external billing system;
- and
- wherein said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device further is configured to receive a second communication indicating a success or failure in charging the user account the determined rate and to communicate a response to the multimedia server indicating, in dependence on the second communication received from said external billing system, the success or failure in charging the user account.
A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a computer for performing the method comprising:
- receiving a request from a multimedia server in a multimedia messaging service rating and billing device via an interface protocol to rate an MMS message associated with a user account;
- determining a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules at the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device;
- communicating the determined rate from the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to an external billing system in order to charge the user account;
- receiving a second communication in the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device indicating a success or failure in charging the determined rate to the user account;
- and
- communicating a response from the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to the multimedia server via the interface protocol indicating, in dependence on the second communication received in the multimedia messaging service rating and billing device, the success or failure in charging the user account.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.