Real-time replenishment with electronic confirmation for sale of prepaid long distance
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method of real-time replenishment with electronic confirmation in the sale of prepaid long distance, comprising:
- receiving a phone number to a computer-based server;
receiving a monetary amount to the server;
receiving to the server an indication of whether an increase or decrease to a balance amount is requested;
comparing the phone number to a stored list of registered phone numbers, each registered phone number having a unique pin and a balance amount;
wherein said pin is said phone number;
creating a new pin, responsive to the comparison not resulting in a match and receiving the indication that an increase to the balance amount has been requested;
increasing the balance amount by the monetary amount, responsive to receiving the indication that an increase to the balance amount has been requested;
decreasing the balance amount by the monetary amount, responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance has been requested;
indicating an error responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance has been requested and the comparison not resulting in a match andsending a request through the server, the request containing the phone number and a SMS message to be sent to the phone number;
said SMS message containing an access phone number;
wherein said access phone number is for use in the prepaid long distance.
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Abstract
A method and system of providing an electronic receipt, such as a SMS text message, to a consumer responsive to a purchase of long distance calling minutes, real-time replenishment of the customer'"'"'s account, and seamless, pin-less use of the purchased long-distance from the user'"'"'s chosen phone(s).
6 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of real-time replenishment with electronic confirmation in the sale of prepaid long distance, comprising:
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receiving a phone number to a computer-based server; receiving a monetary amount to the server; receiving to the server an indication of whether an increase or decrease to a balance amount is requested; comparing the phone number to a stored list of registered phone numbers, each registered phone number having a unique pin and a balance amount; wherein said pin is said phone number; creating a new pin, responsive to the comparison not resulting in a match and receiving the indication that an increase to the balance amount has been requested; increasing the balance amount by the monetary amount, responsive to receiving the indication that an increase to the balance amount has been requested; decreasing the balance amount by the monetary amount, responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance has been requested; indicating an error responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance has been requested and the comparison not resulting in a match and sending a request through the server, the request containing the phone number and a SMS message to be sent to the phone number; said SMS message containing an access phone number; wherein said access phone number is for use in the prepaid long distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for real-time replenishment with electronic confirmation in the sale of prepaid long distance, comprising:
a web portal operable to; receive a phone number; receive a monetary amount; receive an indication of whether an increase or decrease to a balance amount is requested; compare the phone number to a stored list of registered phone numbers, each registered phone number having a unique pin and a balance amount; wherein said pin is said phone number; create a new pin, responsive to the comparison not resulting in a match and receiving the indication that an increase to the balance amount has been requested; increase the balance amount by the monetary amount, responsive to receiving the indication that an increase to the balance amount has been requested; decrease the balance amount by the monetary amount, responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance amount has been requested; indicating an error responsive to receiving the indication that a decrease to the balance has been requested and the comparison not resulting in a match and send a request to a server containing the phone number and a SMS message to be sent to the phone number; said SMS message containing an access phone number; wherein said access phone number is for use in the prepaid long distance. - View Dependent Claims (6)
Specification