Mobile communications billing architecture

US7945240B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AT&T Mobility II LLC · US

Inventors

• Jacqueline Klock · Cumming, US
• Beverly Ann Bowman · Kennesaw, US
• Deborah L. Ballot · McLeansboro, US
• Selena G. Womac · Alpharetta, US
• Rebecca Winter · Marietta, US
• Kenneth D. Heil · Marietta, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 12, 2006
• Grant date: May 17, 2011
• Expiry date: Aug 21, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M2215/018
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A telecommunications payment system which includes a transaction component that facilitates the communication of at least billing and payment information to at least one of a plurality of mobile terminals. In operation the carrier will cause the transaction component to communicate an SMS message to the mobile terminal that includes a billing notification message. The notification message can include a current account balance, including total and past due, if applicable, the user's last payment method, and personal financial account data such as the last four digits of a credit card and/or bank account file. When providing the proper reply, payment processing is initiated such that an amount of funds will be transferred from the user's financial institution to the carrier back-office systems or its financial institution.