Method and apparatus to validate a subscriber line
A method is described of providing validation data associated with a subscriber line of a telecommunication network. The method includes obtaining line data of the subscriber line wherein the line data is suitable for interrogating a line identification database (LIDB). The method interrogates the LIDB with the line data to obtain reference subscriber data associated with the line data, and processes the reference subscriber data to obtain validation data associated with the subscriber line. The invention extends to a subscriber line validation system to validate a subscriber line of a communication network.
1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
receiving a first request via a network for a first transaction for goods or services between a user and a vendor, wherein the first request includes a telephone number of the user;
using one or more processors, facilitating charging the first transaction to a subscriber account linked to the telephone number;
receiving a second request via the network for a second transaction for goods or services between the user and a vendor, wherein the second request is received after the first request;
automatically, using one or more processors, detecting that the account linked to the telephone number has insufficient funds; and
in response to detecting that the account linked to the telephone number has insufficient funds, facilitating charging the second transaction using an alternative payment mechanism.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alternative payment mechanism is a credit card.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alternative payment mechanism is a debit card.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the account linked to the telephone number is a telephone account.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the facilitating occurs automatically without human intervention.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the telephone number is associated with a wireless device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the telephone number is associated with a landline device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is the Internet.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first transaction for goods or services is associated with an online game.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the telephone number is automatically obtained from a number identification embedded in at least one of the first and second requests.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alternative payment mechanism is sourced from the user.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second requests are from a one or more vendor computer systems each controlled by a respective vendor.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the receiving of the first request is from a first vendor computer system, the first vendor computer system being controlled by a first vendor; and
the receiving of the second request is from a second vendor computer system, the second vendor computer system being controlled by a second vendor.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the second request is from a user device, the user device being controlled by the user.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the telephone number of the user comprises utilizing an automatic number identification service.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that billing to the subscriber account associated with the telephone number cannot occur includes detecting a response code associated with a telephone number associated with a wireless service provider.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising for each request receiving a PIN number from a user.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting that charging to the account linked to the telephone number cannot occur comprises detecting a predetermined number of bad PIN attempts.
19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving location data from a user and selectively failing to facilitate charging the account linked to the telephone number based on the location data.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a ZIP code associated with the user.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising processing the received ZIP code and denying billing to the account linked to the billing telephone number in the event that the received ZIP code does not match a ZIP code provided in a database.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the telephone number is associated with a cellular telephone.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first transaction for goods or services is for music or software.
24. A system comprising:
means for receiving a first request via a network for a first transaction for goods or services between a user and a vendor, wherein the first request includes a telephone number of the user;
means for facilitating charging the first transaction to a subscriber account linked to the telephone number;
means for receiving a second request via the network for a second transaction for goods or services between the user and a vendor, wherein the second request is received after the first request;
means for detecting that the account linked to the telephone number has insufficient funds; and
upon detecting that the account linked to the telephone number has insufficient funds, means for facilitating charging the second transaction using an alternative payment mechanism.
25. A computer-implemented system comprising:
memory;
at least one processor; and
at least one program stored in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the at least one program including instructions for:
receiving a first request via a network for a first transaction for goods or services between a user and a vendor, wherein the first request includes a telephone number of the user;
facilitating charging the first transaction to a subscriber account linked to the telephone number;
receiving a second request via the network for a second transaction for goods or services between the user and a vendor, wherein the second request is received after the first request;
detecting that the account linked to the telephone number has insufficient funds; and
upon detecting that the account linked to the telephone number has insufficient funds, facilitating charging the second transaction using an alternative payment mechanism.
26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the alternative payment mechanism is a credit card.
27. The system of claim 25 , wherein the alternative payment method is a debit card.
28. The system of claim 25 , wherein the account linked to the telephone number is a telephone account.
29. The system of claim 25 , wherein the instructions for facilitating occur automatically without human intervention.