METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR SUPPORTING PURCHASES OF GOODS AND SERVICES VIA PREPAID TELECOMMUNICATION ACCOUNTS
Apparatus and method for detecting in real-time when a User of a prepaid telecommunications account tries to complete a data, voice or financial transaction to purchase a product or service but cannot, due to insufficient funds in the Prepaid Account. The system then determines whether the Account is eligible to receive a Facilitation according to predetermined criteria and, if so, either (1) automatically authorizes the transaction to be completed based on a Facilitation amount, subsequently recorded by the system to satisfy the insufficiency, or (2) instantly communicates to the User an offer to do so, and if the User accepts the offer, authorizes the transaction and records the Facilitation amount. The transaction can then be completed without significant interruption. A mechanism is provided such that on the next Topping-Up event(s) of the User's Account, the Facilitation amount is debited from the User's Account for return to the Facilitator.
1 . Apparatus for facilitating a purchase of a product and/or a service via a Prepaid Account associated with a Subscriber and a Mobile Device, the apparatus comprising:
at least one network communication interface;
a memory to store processor-executable instructions and other information; and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one network communication interface and the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processor
A) determines whether a current attempted purchase of a product and/or a service via the Subscriber's Prepaid Account satisfies eligibility criteria for facilitation, wherein a balance of the Prepaid Account is less than a predetermined price of the product and/or the service for the current attempted purchase of the product and/or the service, and
B) only if it is determined that the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation,
1) determines a Facilitation amount based on the predetermined price, wherein a sum of the balance and the Facilitation amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined price,
2) generates at least one authorization message effective to allow release of the product and/or the service to the Mobile Device without requiring a Top-Up of the Prepaid Account prior to the release of the product and/or the service to the Mobile Device,
3) controls the at least one network communication interface so as to transmit the at least one authorization message to an Operator associated with the Prepaid Account and/or to a Service or Product Provider (SOPP) associated with the product and/or the service, and
4) records the Facilitation amount in the memory.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation at least in part by querying a data set to determine whether the Operator is eligible for facilitation.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation at least in part by querying a data set to determine whether a rating platform, a charging platform, and/or a billing platform associated with the current attempted purchase is eligible for facilitation.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation at least in part by querying a data set to determine whether the SOPP is eligible for facilitation.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation at least in part by querying a data set to determine whether the product and/or the service is eligible for facilitation.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation at least in part by determining whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on a Top-Up history of the Prepaid Account.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on an average amount per Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on an elapsed time since a most recent Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on a frequency of Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on a number of Top-Ups credited to the Prepaid Account in a specified recent time period.
12 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on a consumption history of the Prepaid Account.
13 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on a number of non-recovered Facilitations associated with the Prepaid Account.
14 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on a monetary amount of non-recovered Facilitations associated with the Prepaid Account.
15 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor determines whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation based at least in part on whether the Subscriber is blacklisted.
16 . A method comprising:
A) via a computer, determining whether a current attempted purchase of a product and/or a service via a Prepaid Account associated with a Subscriber and a Mobile Device satisfies eligibility criteria for facilitation, wherein a balance of the Prepaid Account is less than a predetermined price of the product and/or the service for the current attempted purchase of the product and/or the service; and
B) only if it is determined that the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation,
1) determining a Facilitation amount based on the predetermined price, wherein a sum of the balance and the Facilitation amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined price,
2) generating at least one authorization message effective to allow release of the product and/or the service to the Mobile Device without requiring a Top-Up of the Prepaid Account prior to the release of the product and/or the service to the Mobile Device,
3) transmitting the at least one authorization message from the computer over a network to an Operator associated with the Prepaid Account and/or to a Service or Product Provider (SOPP) associated with the product and/or the service, thereby facilitating the current attempted purchase, and
4) recording the Facilitation amount in a computer-readable memory.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises querying a data set to determine whether the Operator is eligible for facilitation.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises querying a data set to determine whether a rating platform, a charging platform, and/or a billing platform associated with the current attempted purchase is eligible for facilitation.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises querying a data set to determine whether the SOPP is eligible for facilitation.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises querying a data set to determine whether the product and/or the service is eligible for facilitation.
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises determining whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a Top-Up history of the Prepaid Account.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on an average amount per Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on an elapsed time since a most recent Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a frequency of Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
26 . The method of claim 22 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a number of Top-Ups credited to the Prepaid Account in a specified recent time period.
27 . The method of claim 21 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a consumption history of the Prepaid Account.
28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a number of non-recovered Facilitations associated with the Prepaid Account.
29 . The method of claim 21 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a monetary amount of non-recovered Facilitations associated with the Prepaid Account.
30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the determining whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation comprises determining whether the Subscriber is blacklisted.
31 . At least one computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for facilitating a purchase of a product and/or a service via a Prepaid Account associated with a Subscriber and a Mobile Device, the method comprising:
A) determining whether a current attempted purchase of a product and/or a service via the Subscriber's Prepaid Account satisfies eligibility criteria for facilitation, wherein a balance of the Prepaid Account is less than a predetermined price of the product and/or the service for the current attempted purchase of the product and/or the service; and
B) only if it is determined that the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation,
1) determining a Facilitation amount based on the predetermined price, wherein a sum of the balance and the Facilitation amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined price,
2) generating at least one authorization message effective to allow release of the product and/or the service to the Mobile Device without requiring a Top-Up of the Prepaid Account prior to the release of the product and/or the service to the Mobile Device,
3) transmitting the at least one authorization message to an Operator associated with the Prepaid Account and/or to a Service or Product Provider (SOPP) associated with the product and/or the service, and
4) recording the Facilitation amount in a memory.
32 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises querying a data set to determine whether the Operator is eligible for facilitation.
33 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises querying a data set to determine whether a rating platform, a charging platform, and/or a billing platform associated with the attempted purchase is eligible for facilitation.
34 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises querying a data set to determine whether the SOPP is eligible for facilitation.
35 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises querying a data set to determine whether the product and/or the service is eligible for facilitation.
36 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the determining whether the current attempted purchase satisfies the eligibility criteria for facilitation comprises determining whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation.
37 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a Top-Up history of the Prepaid Account.
38 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on an average amount per Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
39 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on an elapsed time since a most recent Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
40 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a frequency of Top-Up of the Prepaid Account.
41 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a number of Top-Ups credited to the Prepaid Account in a specified recent time period.
42 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a consumption history of the Prepaid Account.
43 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a number of non-recovered Facilitations associated with the Prepaid Account.
44 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation is determined based at least in part on a monetary amount of non-recovered Facilitations associated with the Prepaid Account.
45 . The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the determining whether the Prepaid Account is eligible for facilitation comprises determining whether the Subscriber is blacklisted.