CLIAMS:WE CLAIM:

1. A method of informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, the mobile money account being maintained in a home network of the subscriber, said method comprising:
detecting, by a mobile money system forming part of the home network of the subscriber, details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber;
fetching, by a mobile money system forming part of the home network, an available balance from the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber; and
sending information about the available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network;
wherein the steps of detecting and fetching are performed during a standard roaming network registration process.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number and/or Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) number of the subscriber.

3. The method as claimed in any of the preceding clams, wherein details of the mobile money account are detected on the basis of the MSISDN number and/or SIM number thus received.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving details of the visited network.

5. The method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the MSISDN number and/or the SIM number and/or the details of the visited network is received from a roaming server forming part of the home network.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
determining on the basis of the details of the visited network a currency used in the visited network.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
obtaining a converted available balance, wherein the converted available balance is in the currency used in the visited network.

8. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of sending information about the available balance includes the step of sending the converted available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
obtaining information pertaining to exchange rate trends on the basis of the details of the visited network.

10. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of sending information about the available balance includes the step of sending the converted available balance along with the exchange rate trends so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network.

11. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network as part of a “roaming welcome message”.

12. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network in an independent message following delivery of a roaming welcome message.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the independent message is in the form of a system generated Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the system generated Short Messaging Service (SMS) message incorporating the information is generated in the home network.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network via a USSD channel.

16. A device for informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, the mobile money account being maintained in a home network of the subscriber, said method comprising:
a detector for detecting details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber;
a fetching means for fetching an available balance from the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber; and
a transmitter for sending information about the available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network;
wherein the detector and the fetching means are in operable interconnection with a mobile money system forming part of the home network of the subscriber and configured to perform the steps of detecting and fetching, respectively during a standard roaming network registration process.
,TagSPECI:FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to methods and system for use in mobile money transfer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
In April 2007 Safaricom® launched a new mobile phone based payment and money transfer service, known as M-Pesa®. The service allows users to deposit money into an account stored on their cell phones on the basis of their mobile number, to send balances using SMS technology to other users (including sellers of goods and services), and to redeem deposits for regular money. Users are charged a small fee for sending and withdrawing money using the service. M-Pesa has spread quickly, and has become the most successful mobile phone based financial service in the developing world. By 2012, a stock of about 17 million M-Pesa® accounts had been registered in Kenya.

While systems equivalent to M-Pesa have been introduced in various countries to enable similar money transfer, there are still issues relating to its utilization. By way of example, a user of mobile money service (the service being provided by a Telecom Operator) will not be able to seamlessly know, without making efforts, the latest available money balance in his/her home network mobile money account for the purposes including the desire to spend the available mobile money in a different geography (basically out of the ecosystem of the home network), where the user got latched onto a visiting network provider or could be totally a different provider from the home network provider or could be one of the associated providers of the home network provider, while the subscriber is in roaming. Especially, when the roaming is international roaming, in addition to the above, the user will not be able to seamlessly know, without making efforts the current exchange rate and future trends of the exchange rates values that his/her mobile money can fetch him in a foreign country. It is envisaged that in future when usage of mobile money will increase and interoperability will start to take place between operators, such information will be very important for a roaming subscriber.

To the best of the Inventor’s knowledge, no solution catering to the above problem exists today.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for seamlessly informing a subscriber of mobile money service with an available balance in his mobile money account in the home network, while roaming in a visitor network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of informing a subscriber of an available balance in his/her mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, the mobile money account being maintained in a home network of the subscriber, said method comprising:
detecting, by a mobile money system forming part of the home network of the subscriber, details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber;
fetching, by a mobile money system forming part of the home network, an available balance from the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber; and
sending information about the available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network;
wherein the steps of detecting and fetching are performed during a standard roaming network registration process.

The present invention also provides a device for informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, the mobile money account being maintained in a home network of the subscriber, said method comprising:
a detector for detecting details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber;
a fetching means for fetching an available balance from the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber; and
a transmitter for sending information about the available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network;
wherein the detector and the fetching means are in operable interconnection with a mobile money system forming part of the home network of the subscriber and configured to perform the steps of detecting and fetching, respectively during a standard roaming network registration process.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Figures:
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 shows flow chart corresponding to a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a detailed internal construction of the device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 shows a detailed internal construction of the device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 4 shows a flow chart along with the overall system configuration corresponding to a first embodiment of the invention.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

Detailed Description:
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In today’s world operators provide for mobile money systems to their own subscribers. There different operators may be available in a same country or in different countries. When a subscriber leaves a home network and receives services from another network (visited network), he is said to be roaming. Therefore, one can envisage a scenario wherein the subscriber may be in “national roaming”, in which case the customer is seeking services from a visited network, wherein the home network and the visited network are within the same country. This type of roaming is required when the home network does not provide services in all of the nation’s territories and/or states. Another case of roaming referred as “international roaming” is countered when the customer is seeking services from a visited network, wherein the home network and the visited network are in different countries. In order to offer roaming services to subscribers, the operator need to put in place Roaming Agreements with each operator in each territory and in each country. While operators continuously engage in entering into such Roaming Agreements, these Roaming Agreements are targeted to providing basic roaming services, i.e. enabling the roaming subscriber to make and receive calls, send and receive SMS messages and to some extent access internet. As stated in the background section, there is no system currently available in place by which a subscriber who has subscribed to mobile money service in his corresponding home network is seamlessly enabled to know the available balance in his mobile money account and for purposes including spending the same in a different geography, for instance while roaming.

As stated in the background section, there is an imminent need to provide to methods that can be adopted by telephone service provider (or shortly the operator) for informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, wherein the mobile money account is being maintained in a home network of the subscriber.

In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the process adopted for granting access to basic services to a roaming subscriber is a well-established process and forms part of the GSM standards. Thus, it will be in the interest of all parties to provide methods of informing a subscriber of the available balance by using sub-steps:
(a) which form part of the GSM standards per se;
(b) which may be arrived by modifying the standards; or
(c) which do not require a separation standardization.

As is conventionally understood, during a roaming network registration process, a subscriber attempts to register with the wireless communications system of the visited network by providing identification information (either directly or indirectly) to the visited networks’ gateway mobile switching centre (GMSC). The wireless communications system of the visited network includes a database of information that identifies other operators with whom operator of the visited network has a Roaming Agreement. Once it is determined that a Roaming Agreement is in place with the operator of the home network corresponding to the requesting subscriber, the GMSC of the visited network seeks permission from the GMSC of the home network to permit roaming. Upon satisfaction of predetermined criteria (which the operator of the home network may be prescribed), the GMSC of the home network responds to GMSC of the visited network with an authorization to permit roaming and other details, such as billing related information, a maximum limit for services to be provided (if any), a user profile, etc. Once GMSC of the visited network has received the authorization to permit roaming, it updates its systems components (such as HLR, VLR, etc.) and sends a welcome message to the subscriber. Generally, this message is sent from the Home SMSC. In addition to the above, the visiting SMSC can also originate a message separately on its network and send the same to the subscriber. The welcome message informs to the subscriber the rates for calls, data roaming and messages. In addition, the welcome message informs the subscriber of operator’s free customer care number and the number for emergency services.

The Inventors have noticed that it will be in the interest of all parties to provide a method of informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in the visited network by applying modifications to the roaming network registration process.

For providing this seamless experience to roaming subscribers, the present invention leverages the existing investments in roaming infrastructure without requiring any additional role from the visiting subscriber network including any need for mobile money systems of visiting network provider to talk to the mobile money systems of subscriber’s home network or vice versa, either directly or through intermediaries or through any special arrangements. The informational message contains the available mobile money balance in home network in the visited geography local currency. Additionally along with the above message latest FOREX trends between the home and local currency will be provided, when the user is roaming in a geography whose local currency differs from the home currency.

Now referring to figure 1, it can be seen that the present invention provides a method of informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, the mobile money account being maintained in a home network of the subscriber, said method comprising:
detecting, by a mobile money system forming part of the home network of the subscriber, details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber (Step 120);
fetching, by a mobile money system forming part of the home network, an available balance from the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber (Step 122); and
sending information about the available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network (Step 124);
wherein the steps of detecting and fetching are performed during a standard roaming network registration process 100.

In an embodiment, the invention further comprises receiving Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number and/or Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) number of the subscriber (Step 132).

In another embodiment of the invention, wherein details of the mobile money account are detected on the basis of the MSISDN number and/or SIM number thus received.

In still another embodiment, the invention further comprises receiving details of the visited network (Step 134).

In a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the MSISDN number and/or the SIM number and/or the details of the visited network is received from a roaming server forming part of the home network.

In yet another embodiment, the invention further comprises determining on the basis of the details of the visited network a currency used in the visited network (Step 136).

In another embodiment, the invention further comprises obtaining a converted available balance, wherein the converted available balance is in the currency used in the visited network (Step 138).

In a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the step of sending information about the available balance includes the step of sending the converted available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network.

In yet another embodiment, the invention further comprises obtaining information pertaining to exchange rate trends on the basis of the details of the visited network (Step 140).

In a further more embodiment of the invention, wherein the step of sending information about the available balance includes the step of sending the converted available balance along with the exchange rate trends so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network.

In an embodiment of the invention, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network as part of a “roaming welcome message”.

In another embodiment of the invention, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network in an independent message following delivery of a roaming welcome message.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, wherein the independent message is in the form of a system generated Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

In still another embodiment of the invention, wherein the system generated Short Messaging Service (SMS) message incorporating the information is generated in the home network.

In another embodiment of the invention, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network via a USSD channel.

Referring to figure 2, the present invention also provides a device 200 for informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, the mobile money account being maintained in a home network of the subscriber, said method comprising:
a detector 202 for detecting details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber;
a fetching means 204 for fetching an available balance from the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber; and
a transmitter 206 for sending information about the available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network;
wherein the detector 202 and the fetching means 204 are in operable interconnection with a mobile money system forming part of the home network of the subscriber and configured to perform the steps of detecting and fetching, respectively during a standard roaming network registration process.

Referring to figure 3, yet another typical hardware configuration of the device for informing the subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in the visited network in the form of a computer system 200 is shown. The computer system 200 can include a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computer system 200 to perform any one or more of the methods disclosed. The computer system 200 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system 200 may operate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The computer system 200 can also be implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single computer system 200 is illustrated, the term "system" shall also be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.

The computer system 200 may include a processor 302, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both. The processor 302 may be a component in a variety of systems. For example, the processor 302 may be part of a standard personal computer or a workstation. The processor 302 may be one or more general processors, digital signal processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, servers, networks, digital circuits, analog circuits, combinations thereof, or other now known or later developed devices for analyzing and processing data The processor 302 may implement a software program, such as code generated manually (i.e., programmed).

The computer system 200 may include a memory 304, such as a memory 304 that can communicate via a bus 308. The memory 304 may be a main memory, a static memory, or a dynamic memory. The memory 304 may include, but is not limited to computer readable storage media such as various types of volatile and non-volatile storage media, including but not limited to random access memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable read-only memory, flash memory, magnetic tape or disk, optical media and the like. In one example, the memory 304 includes a cache or random access memory for the processor 302. In alternative examples, the memory 304 is separate from the processor 302, such as a cache memory of a processor, the system memory, or other memory. The memory 304 may be an external storage device or database for storing data. Examples include a hard drive, compact disc ("CD"), digital video disc ("DVD"), memory card, memory stick, floppy disc, universal serial bus ("USB") memory device, or any other device operative to store data. The memory 304 is operable to store instructions executable by the processor 302. The functions, acts or tasks illustrated in the figures or described may be performed by the programmed processor 302 executing the instructions stored in the memory 304. The functions, acts or tasks are independent of the particular type of instructions set, storage media, processor or processing strategy and may be performed by software, hardware, integrated circuits, firm-ware, micro-code and the like, operating alone or in combination. Likewise, processing strategies may include multiprocessing, multitasking, parallel processing and the like.

As shown, the computer system 200 may or may not further include a display unit 310, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a projector, a printer or other now known or later developed display device for outputting determined information. The display 310 may act as an interface for the user to see the functioning of the processor 302, or specifically as an interface with the software stored in the memory 304 or in the drive unit 316.

Additionally, the computer system 200 may include an input device 312 configured to allow a user to interact with any of the components of system 200. The input device 312 may be a number pad, a keyboard, or a cursor control device, such as a mouse, or a joystick, touch screen display, remote control or any other device operative to interact with the computer system 200.

The computer system 200 may also include a disk or optical drive unit 316. The disk drive unit 316 may include a computer-readable medium 322 in which one or more sets of instructions 324, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, the instructions 324 may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described. In a particular example, the instructions 324 may reside completely, or at least partially, within the memory 304 or within the processor 302 during execution by the computer system 200. The memory 304 and the processor 302 also may include computer-readable media as discussed above.

The present invention contemplates a computer-readable medium that includes instructions 324 or receives and executes instructions 324 responsive to a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network 326 can communicate voice, video, audio, images or any other data over the network 326. Further, the instructions 324 may be transmitted or received over the network 326 via a communication port or interface 320 or using a bus 308. The communication port or interface 320 may be a part of the processor 302 or may be a separate component. The communication port 320 may be created in software or may be a physical connection in hardware. The communication port 320 may be configured to connect with a network 326, external media, the display 310, or any other components in system 200, or combinations thereof. The connection with the network 326 may be a physical connection, such as a wired Ethernet connection or may be established wirelessly as discussed later. Likewise, the additional connections with other components of the system 300 may be physical connections or may be established wirelessly. The network 326 may alternatively be directly connected to the bus 308.

The network 326 may include wired networks, wireless networks, Ethernet AVB networks, or combinations thereof. The wireless network may be a cellular telephone network, an 802.11, 802.16, 802.20, 802.1Q or WiMax network. Further, the network 326 may be a public network, such as the Internet, a private network, such as an intranet, or combinations thereof, and may utilize a variety of networking protocols now available or later developed including, but not limited to TCP/IP based networking protocols.

In an alternative example, dedicated hardware implementations, such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement various parts of the system 200.

Applications that may include the systems can broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more examples described may implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

The system described may be implemented by software programs executable by a computer system. Further, in a non-limited example, implementations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement various parts of the system.

The system is not limited to operation with any particular standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) may be used. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed are considered equivalents thereof.

It may be noted that since the process of roaming network registration process (alternatively referred to as latching process) is substantially documented, the specification may have been drafted so as to provide greater emphasis on the novel and inventive contributions of the invention.

In the following paragraphs a detailed description about implementation of the aforesaid method is provided. It should however, be understood every implementation of the method need not follow the scenario as mentioned in the following paragraphs. Thus, the scope of the claims is intended to be restricted only on the basis of the claims and their equivalents and not on the basis of the examples provided herein below.

TECHNICAL METHOD OF EXAMPLE 1:

Referring to Figure 4, the user 402 of home network 404 is attempting to register with the wireless communications system of the visited network 406. More particularly, vide step 502 the User 402 provides identification information to the visited networks’ SMSC 408, which is provided during step 504 to the visited networks’ GMSC 410. In step 506, the visited networks’ GMSC seeks confirmation from Roaming Server 412 forming part of the visited network for a Roaming Agreement with the operator of the home network. Upon receiving the confirmation in step 508 from the roaming server, in step 510 the visitor networks’ GMSC 410 seeks permission from GMSC 414 of the home network 404 to permit roaming.

The GMSC 414 contacts in step 512 a home location register (HLR) 416 forming part of the home network 404 and obtains in step 514 a confirmation therefrom. Thereafter, in step 516 the GMSC 414 send a request to a roaming server 418. The roaming server 418 may for example, check satisfaction of predetermined criteria and sends a request to provisioning system 420 in step 518. The provisioning system 420 in turn sends the request to mobile money system 422 in step 520. The mobile money system 422 determines details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber and fetches an available balance. The mobile money system 422 may be provided Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number and/or Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) number of the subscriber for this purpose. The mobile money system 422 may be also provided details of the visited network and on the basis of the same, the mobile money system determines a currency used in the visited network 406. In case the currency used in the visited network 406 is different from the currency used in the home network 404, the mobile money system 422 in step 522 sends a request to a currency converter device 424 along with the available balance and in step 524 obtains therefrom a converted available balance, wherein the converted available balance is in the currency used in the visited network 406. Additionally the mobile money system 422 in step 526 sends a request to a Forex analytical device 426 and in step 528 obtains therefrom information pertaining to exchange rate trends.

In step 530 the mobile money 422 sends the information which comprises an available balance and/or a converted available balance optionally along with the exchange rate trend information to the GMSC 414. This step can include sending the information through the provisioning system 420 / roaming server 418 / SMSC 428, etc. The GMSC 414 of the home network 404 sends in step 532 the information to the GMSC 410 of the visited network 406. The GMSC 414 of the home network 404 sends the information to the GMSC 410 of the visited network 406 as part of the roaming network registration process. More particularly, this information is sent by the GMSC of the home network to GMSC of the visited network which providing an authorization to permit roaming along with other details (as is conventionally communicated). Once the GMSC 410 of the visited network receives the authorization to permit roaming, it updates its system components such as HLR/VLR 430, etc. in steps 534 and 536 and finally sends in step 538 a welcome message to the SMSC 408 for delivery to the subscriber in step 540. In one option, the information pertaining to available balance / converted available balance may be sent to the subscriber as part of the welcome message or may be delivered to the subscriber in the form of a separate message.

This mechanism is particularly beneficial in case the visited network also has a mobile money system 432 connected to the GMSC 410 via an appropriate provisioning system 434, as in such a scenario, the subscriber can interact with other subscribers having account in the mobile money system 432 and transfer the funds.

It is envisaged that the method would bring about transparency as the exchange rate being availed by the subscriber are available to the subscriber and predictability of exchange rates may help the subscriber to spend or use the money wisely. It is also a very good user experience to receive such information in a welcome roaming message.

While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein.

The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of embodiments is at least as broad as given by the following claims.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of any or all the claims.

WE CLAIM:

1. A method of informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, the mobile money account being maintained in a home network of the subscriber, said method comprising:
detecting, by a mobile money system forming part of the home network of the subscriber, details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber;
fetching, by a mobile money system forming part of the home network, an available balance from the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber; and
sending information about the available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network;
wherein the steps of detecting and fetching are performed during a standard roaming network registration process.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number and/or Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) number of the subscriber.

3. The method as claimed in any of the preceding clams, wherein details of the mobile money account are detected on the basis of the MSISDN number and/or SIM number thus received.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving details of the visited network.

5. The method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the MSISDN number and/or the SIM number and/or the details of the visited network is received from a roaming server forming part of the home network.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
determining on the basis of the details of the visited network a currency used in the visited network.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
obtaining a converted available balance, wherein the converted available balance is in the currency used in the visited network.

8. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of sending information about the available balance includes the step of sending the converted available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
obtaining information pertaining to exchange rate trends on the basis of the details of the visited network.

10. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of sending information about the available balance includes the step of sending the converted available balance along with the exchange rate trends so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network.

11. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network as part of a “roaming welcome message”.

12. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network in an independent message following delivery of a roaming welcome message.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the independent message is in the form of a system generated Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the system generated Short Messaging Service (SMS) message incorporating the information is generated in the home network.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information is delivered to the subscriber in the visited network via a USSD channel.

16. A device for informing a subscriber of an available balance in a mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, the mobile money account being maintained in a home network of the subscriber, said method comprising:
a detector for detecting details of the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber;
a fetching means for fetching an available balance from the mobile money account corresponding to the subscriber; and
a transmitter for sending information about the available balance so as to be delivered to the subscriber in the visited network;
wherein the detector and the fetching means are in operable interconnection with a mobile money system forming part of the home network of the subscriber and configured to perform the steps of detecting and fetching, respectively during a standard roaming network registration process.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INFORMING SUBSCRIBER OF AVAILABLE BALANCE IN MOBILE MONEY ACCOUNT WHILE ROAMING

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides method and device to employed by telephone service provider for informing a subscriber of an available balance in his/her mobile money account while roaming in a visited network, wherein the mobile money account is being maintained in a home network of the subscriber. The invention leverages the existing investments in roaming infrastructure without requiring any additional role from the visiting subscriber network including any need for mobile money systems of visiting network provider to talk to the mobile money systems of subscriber’s home network or vice versa, either directly or through intermediaries or through any special arrangements, thus providing a seamless experience. The informational message contains available mobile money balance in home network in the visited geography local currency. Additionally along with the above message latest FOREX trends between the home and local currency will be provided, when the user is roaming in a geography whose local currency differs from the home currency.

FIGURE 1