Systems and methods for providing renewable wireline and wireless services and goods
Methods for provisioning wireline or wireless services and goods to at least one prepaid or postpaid customer in a communications network are provided. In one such method, a request is received for at least one service or good from a prepaid customer and it is determined based upon the request if sufficient funds are available to pay for the requested service and, if not, a warning message is sent to the customer. If funds are available a payment for the requested service or good is deducted from the customer's account, the account balance is updated, and an authorization is sent to the service node that facilitates the requested service or good. Upon receipt of the authorization, the service node is permitted to access the requested service or good in accordance with a parameter. Other similar methods are provided for postpaid customers.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a system comprising a processor, from a mobile communication device associated with a subscription plan for a first service associated with a first time period, a user request for a second service associated with a second time period, wherein the second service is different from the first service;
provisioning, by the system, in response to receiving the user request, the second service for the mobile communication device to grant the mobile communication device access to the second service for the second time period; and
establishing, in a database, an entry associated with an account corresponding to a user of the mobile communication device, the entry comprising at least one of an expiration quantity of the second service or an expiration date for the second service based on the second time period during which the second service is available.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time period is shorter than the first time period.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first service if a voice service and the second service is a data service.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time period is renewable, and wherein the method further comprises re-provisioning the second service for the mobile communication device in response to receiving a request to renew the second service.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second service comprises access to digital media content, and wherein the digital media content comprises at least one of audio, video, or video games.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, to the mobile communication device, a prompt for a payment type for a charge associated with the second service, wherein the prompt comprises a first option to bill an account associated with a user of the mobile communication device for the charge associated with the second service, a second option to deduct the charge associated with the second service from a debit account associated with the user of the mobile communication device, and a third option to make a one-time payment for the charge associated with the second service.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a mobile communication device associated with a subscription plan for a first service associated with a first time period, a user request for a second service associated with a second time period, wherein the second service is different from the first service;
provisioning, in response to receiving the user request, the second service for the mobile communication device to grant the mobile communication device access to the second service for the second time period; and
establishing, in a database, an entry associated with an account corresponding to a user of the mobile communication device, the entry comprising at least one of an expiration date for the second service based on the second time period during which the second service is available or an expiration quantity of the second service.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the second time period is shorter than the first time period.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the second time period is renewable, and wherein the operations further comprise re-provisioning the second service for the mobile communication device in response to receiving a request to renew the second service.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the second service comprises access to digital media content, and wherein the digital media content comprises at least one of audio, video, or video games.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise providing, to the mobile communication device, a prompt for a payment type for a charge associated with the second service, wherein the prompt comprises a first option to bill an account associated with a user of the mobile communication device for the charge associated with the second service, a second option to deduct the charge associated with the second service from a debit account associated with the user of the mobile communication device, and a third option to make a one-time payment for the charge associated with the second service.
12. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a mobile communication device associated with a subscription plan for a first service associated with a first time period, a user request for a second service associated with a second time period, wherein the first service is different from the second service,
provisioning, in response to receiving the user request, the second service for the mobile communication device to grant the mobile communication device access to the second service for the second time period, and
establishing, in a database, an entry associated with an account corresponding to a user of the mobile communication device, the entry comprising at least one of an expiration date for the second service based on the second time period during which the second service is available or an expiration quantity of the second service.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second time period is shorter than the first time period.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second time period is renewable, and wherein the operations further comprise re-provisioning the second service for the mobile communication device in response to receiving a request to renew the second service.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first service is a voice service and the second service is a data service.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second service comprises access to digital media content, wherein the digital media content comprises at least one of audio, video, or video games.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise providing, to the mobile communication device, a prompt for a payment type for a charge associated with the second service, wherein the prompt comprises a first option to bill an account associated with a user of the mobile communication device for the charge associated with the second service, a second option to deduct the charge associated with the second service from a debit account associated with the user of the mobile communication device, and a third option to make a one-time payment for the charge associated with the second service.