Prepaid multi-line plan infrastructure and methods
View Patent ↗A system is provided. An application determines a consolidated cycle date for a master prepaid account where a cycle date comprises the first day of usage periods for prepaid accounts. The application determines that a first prepaid account is associated with a first cycle date and a second prepaid account is associated with a second cycle date where the first, second, and consolidated cycle date differ from each other. A first and second prorated amount is determined by multiplying a remaining fraction of a current first and second usage period times a first and second periodic payment, respectively. The first prorated amount is added to the second prorated amount to determine a first credit. Individual billing is discontinued for the first and second prepaid account. The first credit is applied to a first master payment amount payable on the consolidated cycle date under the master prepaid account.
1. A processor-implemented method of merging a plurality of prepaid accounts into a multi-line account, comprising:
creating, by a computer processor, a master account for consolidation of a first prepaid account and a second prepaid account;
determining, by the computer processor, that the first prepaid account is associated with a first cycle date, wherein the first cycle date is the first day of a first usage period of the first prepaid account;
determining, by the computer processor, that the second prepaid account is associated with a second cycle date, wherein the second cycle date is the first day of a second usage period of the second prepaid account and wherein the second cycle date differs from the first cycle date;
determining, by the computer processor, a first prorated amount by multiplying a first fraction times a first periodic payment associated with the first usage period wherein the first fraction is calculated by dividing a first quantity of days from a first closing date of the first account to the end of current first usage period by a first total number of days in the first usage period;
determining, by the computer processor, a second prorated amount by multiplying a second fraction times a second periodic payment associated with the second usage period, wherein the second fraction is calculated by dividing a second quantity of days from a second closing date of the second account to the end of current second usage period by a second total number of days in the second usage period, and wherein the sum of the second prorated amount and the first prorated amount comprises a third credit; and
determining, by the computer processor, the first closing date and the second closing date to maximize the third credit, wherein the first closing date, the second closing date, and a third cycle date fall on the same day, wherein the master account is started and the first prepaid account and the second prepaid account are closed and consolidated into the master account on the third cycle date, and wherein the first closing date, the second closing date, and the third cycle date are different from the first cycle date and the second cycle date.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first prepaid account is associated with a first portable electronic device and the second prepaid account is associated with a second portable electronic device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device continue to receive access to wireless voice and data services under the master account as previously under the first prepaid account and the second prepaid account, respectively.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein individual billing for the first prepaid account and the second prepaid account discontinue upon the consolidation.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first closing date and the second closing date are determined to maximize the third credit to set the third cycle date for the master account such that out-of-pocket expenditure is minimized.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the master account is one of a prepaid account and a postpaid account.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the third cycle date is based on an analysis of daily account processing load statistics of a telecommunications service provider, and wherein the third cycle date is established on a day of a month associated with less than average daily account processing load.